Jordan has things down Pat

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
Straight from the town league in Mt Hagen to being a Highlands Zone representative, burly SP PNG Hunters second-rower Jordan Pat adds size and power to coach Michael Marum’s roster this season.
The 21-year-old has earned a reputation as a hard-running, crash-tackling forward and at 181cm and weighing 96kg, he has the potential to be a wide-running threat for the Hunters similar to former players David Loko and Timothy Lomai.
Despite not making Sunday’s Intrust Super Cup season opener against the Tweed Heads Seagulls, Pat is likely to be used at some stage as Marum works out his best 17.
Pat was one of several players drafted into the Hunters based mostly on his form at club and confederation level.
Other players who have risen to the Hunters ranks from outside the Digicel Cup system have been Southern Highlander Justin Yoka (Highlands) and Port Moresby’s Jack Oii and Rex Kaupa Jr (Southern).
Coach Marum has already made several astute picks from the ranks outside the semi-professional competition and come up with gems like the late Kato Ottio and Edene Gabbie.
Pat could be the next bolter.
The Western Highlander, from Gavina village, Hagen Central, was initially not interested in sports but growing up in a league-mad area the code was hard to ignore.
“Growing up I was not really interested in sports. I was expected to go to school, get an education and find a job and look after my parents,” Pat said of the expectations laid on him and his brother.
But his outlook changed when he turned 16 and was introduced to playing rugby league in one of the Highlands region’s most famous competitions — the Gomis league.
In 2014, Pat was a Grade 9 student at Hagen Park Secondary during the week and over the weekend was mixing it with men and learning the trade in the rough and tumble of the Gomis league.
Pat credits his older brother Moses with getting him into league.
“I was encouraged by my brother Moses who said I had the built to be a good rugby league player and maybe even be a representative player one day,” Pat said.
But as much as Pat was learning to love rugby league his parents kept him on the straight and narrow regularly reminding him to commit to school and that education was a priority.
“My parents did not expect me to play, I was to concentrate on school and education.
“They only had two children so education was always the priority.”
Pat had a balancing act to do between school and playing and training but he managed.
“Playing and training was affecting my school work but I managed to do them both especially in grade 10.”
Pat joined the Gomis Panthers in 2015 and has been with the club since.
An interesting fact is that Pat was taught by current Hunters vice-captain Moses Meninga, who was a trainee teacher at the time, in 2014.
“After I completed Grade 12 in 2017 I didn’t get an offer from the colleges so I concentrated on playing and made the Highlands Zone last year.
“I was lucky enough to get picked for the Hunters pre-season squad and now I’m in the final squad for the Queensland Cup and I’m enjoying being under Michael (Marum) and the staff here,” Pat said.
Pat said he was still in awe of the Hunters’ senior players in captain Adex Wera and fellow Hagen native Enoch Maki, whom he watched as a teenager growing up.
Pat said his favourite NRL player was Brisbane Broncos back-rower Matt Gillett.
Pat’s other sport aside from rugby league is volleyball.