Governor Kool, calm, collected

By HENRY MORABANG
CHIMBU governor and former PNG Kumuls centre Noah Kool showed rugby league fans that he can mix politics with sports quite well.
Playing for the PNG Legends against the Australian Legends yesterday in Port Moresby, Kool displayed the smooth skills  and verve of a man who could have easily been mistaken for a current player in PNG’s 45-44 win at Lloyd Robson Oval yesterday.
Cheered on by 3,000-plus crowd, Kool caught out his Australian opponents with deft footwork and a good pair of hands to set up his teammates for two tries.
Kool scored a try and set up two other tries as PNG overcame the Australians in the inaugural clash.
He agreed to join the PNG Legends team because it was a good concept initiated by PNGNRL Bid Committee.
“It is a good idea to involve former PNG Kumul players who know the game best to be involved in the administration of the game, promotion and also take part in such promotional matches for the development of the sport in the country,” Kool said.
When asked about his game, Kool said he felt rusty because he had not trained with the team because of work commitments.
“Despite work commitments, I feel strongly that I must give something back to the game, not financially but my presence in the PNG Legends team will help boost the promotion of the game,” he said.  
The legends game was played in four quarters and got off to a flying start when former Mt Hagen Eagles and Kumul David Gomia touched down for the first try just five minutes into the game.
PNG captain and current Kumuls’ coach Adrian Lam, who played a captain’s knock, made sure of the conversion to put PNG in front.
The Australians hit back through former Newcastle winger Darren Albert after a good break by captain Petero Civoniceva.
PNG-based Australian Legend Julian O’Neill converted to level the scores at 6-6.
Former Melbourne Storm Matt Geyer regathered his own grubber to set up fullback Robbie O’Davis for a try which Geyer converted to extend their lead to 12-6.
Former Kumul prop forward Ben “Big Foot” Bire put his body on the line to set up Gomia for his second try to narrow the score to 12-10.
Just before the first quarter ended, Lam placed a neat grubber for his fullback Dairi Kovae to score and give PNG the lead 14-12.
In the second quarter, Geyer picked up the ball from the scrum to put his No.7 Noel Goldthorpe through for a 16-14 scoreline but the quick hands of England-based Stanley Gene saw PNG snatch back the lead 18-16.
It was Geyer again who set reserve forward Justin Loomans up to put the Australians back in front 20-18 in the see-sawing affair.
Former rugby league bad boy John Hopoate extended the Australian lead to 26-18 with a converted try before Lam intercepted an Australian pass to narrow the scores at 26-22.
Gomia’s third try of the afternoon levelled the score at 26-26 at half time.
The third and fourth quarter was a tit-for-tat affair with both teams exchanging leads several times before a field goal by Tuksy Karu made the big difference in the final 45-44 score line.
Kool was instrumental in the final stages of the game when he backed his Simbu “wantok” Gene to score in the third quarter before Karu took the field goal.
The game was very tight in the final quarter with PNG leading 39-38 when Gene scored a converted to put PNG in front 45-38.
Australia scored a consolation try to lock Scott Sattler but it was not enough as the final hooter saved the day for the PNG Legends.