Ivaroa blames selectors for poor Kumuls performance

 By HENRY MORABANG

OUTSPOKEN critic on Team Kumul Jacob Ivaroa (pictured) feels for the boys stating that many of the players were played out of their regular positions.

He said the Prime Minister XIII at Kalabond, Kokopo speaks for itself but the rugby league selectors kept faith in them for World Cup. 

Ivaroa blamed the national 

rugby league selectors for Team Kumul’s pathetic performances at the World Cup.

“Winning the warm-up game against Scotland brings false expectation to the coaching team and it never works in the first game against France where PNG lost 9-8,” Ivaroa said.

He said PNG was not like Australia where players can play in three different positions. 

“I solely hold the selectors responsible for the disastrous results. The selectors need to be sacked as they never provide a good team to Mal Meninga and Adrian Lam,” he said. 

The selectors select the team that created more problems for rugby league followers in the country.

Ivaroa sees no reason to select too many five-eighth and hookers and dropped specialist players such as inform David Loko, Essau Siune and impact forward Nixon Kolo. 

He said as member of the PNG Rugby League board, he will push for the removal of selectors during the November Annual General Meeting in Lae.

“The selectors should humble themselves and resigned before the AGM,” he said.

He also commented that the high performance program did little good as a lot of players involved in the program were neither in the World Cup team.

He blamed the coaching director Mal Meninga and coach Adrian Lam for not spending enough time to move around the country to physically watch and monitor the players instead of relying on recommendation from national selectors. 

Ivaroa said he felt and sympathised for the boys but urged them to give extra effort in the remaining game against New Zealand.