Four Nations a good learning curve

Briefs, Letters

THE Four Nations tournament was over for PNG after the mauling in the hands of the Kiwis 10 days ago. 
The tournament was a good learning curve for the Kumuls.
They must drastically lift up their game if PNG were to win its first international test.
They were thrashed 42-0 by the Kangaroos in their first match, got a 76-12 hiding by New Zealand and a 36-10 drubbing by England last Saturday.
PNG captain Paul Aiton said: “We’re very disappointed. We just missed something that made us PNG.” 
But whatever it is, that “elusive something” must be found quickly with the World Cup coming up.
The team must conduct a post-mortem and no doubt critics at home and abroad will have their say. 
This will be good for the code.
The league management must find out what went wrong and minimise similar mistakes in future.  
The Four Nations provides many good lessons for the Kumuls and its management.
This is what we must do.
Firstly, PNG must now plan better for the future. 
Secondly, the Kumuls management must now seriously treat all future international matches as an occasion not to be missed. 
Thirdly, PNG will not only be pitted against some of the best teams from strong rugby league playing nations, but learn valuable lessons.
Fourthly, the Kumul management team must also closely observe and apply new tactics against countries like Australia, New Zealand and England. 
This will see some big improvements in the Kumuls’ overall performance to be potential “giant killers” in future. 
This will only happen if the Kumuls can work out both the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents before playing them.
Our strategic planners must work hard to capitalise on them and, in particular, develop special tactics for playing against each of the three top countries, with their own distinct styles of play. 
The Kumuls management have no excuses. 
Rugby league has been played in PNG for some half century.
PNG league administration should have, by now, developed a good capacity, and depth of managing and playing the code at somewhat similar levels as Australia, NZ and England.
But alas, that was not to be.

 

Reginald Renagi
Gabagaba-Kemabolo