Kumul star attacked

PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls star Nene Macdonald said in a Facebook post that he will not play for the country again until the individual who attacked him at a hotel in Port Moresby on Saturday night is brought to justice.
“I will never put a PNG Kumuls jersey on again till the guy that smashed a bottle over my head last night in Lamana is found and dealt with,” Macdonald said in a post yesterday morning.
The 24-year-old was with teammates celebrating his side’s 32-22 win over the England Knights at Lamana Hotel when, according to hotel staff, he was hit in the back of the head with a bottle thrown by a patron who was alleged to be an off-duty police man.
The hotel in a statement said a spirit glass was thrown at Macdonald. “As everyone in the club was happy and excited to see Nene Macdonald, they lifted him up on their shoulders and were celebrating the win. After he was put down, he made his way to the stairs where a guy threw a spirit glass at him… the glass hit Nene on the back of the head. Nene was escorted to the hotel reception where he received medical assistance from the Security Manager,” the hotel said in a statement.
The reason for the attack has yet to established but Macdonald of mixed Australian and Central (Kairuku) parentage was taken by hotel staff and given medical treatment before leaving the premises.
Hotel security held the attacker and called the police who arrived later only to leave without making an arrest or explaining the situation to hotel management.
The PNG Rugby Football League released a brief statement condemning the attack calling on police minister Jelta Wong, pictured, to have his department investigate the incident. “The PNG Rugby Football League has been made aware of an incident involving a PNG Kumul player (named) on Saturday night in Port Moresby.”
PNGRFL chief executive officer Reatau Rau said the PNGRFL would request the Police Minister and his department to carry out a thorough investigation into this incident.
“If what has happened to the player (Macdonald) is true, we totally condemn this incident and deplore the unacceptable behaviour of the person/persons involved,” Rau said.
“PNGRFL will issue a statement as soon as the facts have been established.”
In a later post, Macdonald assured fans he was fine on Sunday afternoon.
“Thanks everyone for the messages and concern,” he wrote.
“I am fine and just disappointed last night ended the way it did after a good win for the Kumuls with unnecessary violence. Thanks to all the Kumuls fans for all the support.”
Kumuls coach Michael Marum said he was yet to get a full report on the incident but had been with his squad in a post-match dinner and spent time with them before retiring for the night.
“I got the message at around 3.30am in the morning after we had our team dinner and celebrated the win at our hotel (Gateway). It was our last game of the season and it was Meady’s (David Mead) birthday on Sunday so we were also celebrating that and after the dinner I spent some time with the boys and then I told them to be careful and enjoy themselves,” Marum said.
“What happened is really disappointing. Nene is someone who’s committed himself to PNG and we have to remember that he’s a top NRL player and a professional. He had a great game against the Knights and was our man-of-the-match so we’re really disappointed by what’s happened.”
Macdonald left yesterday and will see his doctor in Sydney for treatment there.
On Macdonald’s Facebook post about not playing for the Kumuls until his attacker was “dealt with” Marum said he understood the reaction and hoped the police were able to address the matter appropriately.