Game faces set, bring on the Fijian Batis

Hello there to all our friends and families in Papua New Guinea and abroad from Christchurch, New Zealand. Welcome to the 33rd edition of Coach’s Corner in your favourite rugby league newspaper — The National.
We arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday evening around 8pm (6pm, PNG time) to a warm welcome by the PNG community here. It was good to see them all dressed in black, red and gold, and with our beloved PNG flag.
The team really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you all at Orangetheory Stadium for the 5.20pm (3.20pm, PNG time) game against the Fiji Batis on Saturday.
There was a small scare in camp over the weekend in Port Moresby when the Kumuls medical staff revealed that Justin Olam had a hairline fracture on his right wrist. The report was sent to the Melbourne Storm medical staff. Justin travelled to Melbourne on Monday and had scans on his wrist on Tuesday.
The Storm medical staff have cleared Justin of a fractured wrist and he will join us in Christchurch today to prepare for the match.
Our ‘White Kumul’ Luke Page joined us in Brisbane on Monday. Yesterday, the team rested after two days of travelling.
Last night, the team attended a powhiri — a traditional welcome by Maori elders. We are learning and absorbing as much as we can of the Maori cultures and traditions.
Today, the team will visit the cemetery to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the earthquake in Christchurch a few years ago. This afternoon, we have a training session at Leslie Park.
Tomorrow will be the captain’s run at Orangetheory Stadium.
At this stage, I’ll stick with my top 17 for the match. We welcome Alex (Johnston) and Daniel (Russell) into the starting line-up. Both will wear the Kumuls jumper for the first time.
Daniel represented the Kumuls last year against the England Knights at home. But the games were not sanctioned by the International Rugby League, therefore, did not count as tests.
Forget about our two wins over them. That’s history now. This is a new game on neutral territory. We have prepared well. We have a game plan and the result will come if and when we execute it effectively.
We leave Christchurch for Brisbane at 5am on Sunday and arrive in Port Moresby at around 1.30pm. Preparations will begin on Monday for the test against the visiting Great Britain Lions in Port Moresby next Saturday.
Tickets are on sale now so please get some for yourself and your family and come to the Oil Search National Football Stadium. We’ll see you then.
England Women travel through Port Moresby for Goroka today to face our Oil Search PNG Orchids in the first of a two-test series. Our women have been in camp in Goroka since Sunday.
Everyone in and around Goroka, please go to the National Sports Institute on Saturday and support them. This will inspire them to perform well on home soil and in front of their fellow Papua New Guineans.
The Orchids play the second test in Port Moresby the following Saturday before the Kumuls-Lions game.
The regional club championship eliminations are progressing well in the four confederates. The champions for each confederate will be known by the end of weekend.
The regional champions travel to Lae next week to play for the national club championship from Nov 15-17.
Until next week, play hard, safe and by the rules in whatever sport you are competing in.
If you are a spectator or supporter, remember there is no room for violence in any sport or community.

Cheers,
Mikz