Kumuls John and Pora jetting off to Newtown

 By KEVIN TEME

KUMULS Benjamin John and Rodney Pora are set for a stint with Newtown Jets, a feeder club to Sydney City Roosters, this year.

John and Kumul vice-captain Pora will leave immediately after getting their two-year sporting visas this week.

John decided not to take up a one year contract with Ipswich Jets in the Queensland cup this season.

The pair will undergo intensive training with Sydney City Roosters for two weeks before linking up with Newtown. 

Several trial matches leading into the proper season are also on the cards.

A relieved John told The National about his and Pora’s move last Friday. 

Originally, John including other two Kumuls, Nixon Kolo and Charlie Wabo who were scouted by the Ipswich Jets during the Four Nation’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand are unlikely to to travel however, the  Kumul utility was given another chance along Pora by the Sydney-based club.

John said he had opted out of playing for Ipswich Jets because he did not want to play on a  quarterly basis but accepted a two-year deal with the Newtown Jets   instead.

John and Pora are set to benefit from a two-week pre-season training with Roosters head coach Brian Smith before joining Newtown Jets and playing in a trial  against a Canterbury Bulldogs feeder club. 

John confirmed that there would be several trials before they join the Jets.

John said he had quit his contract with Ipswich  because of visa issues which most PNG rugby league players face while admitting that Newtown had offered him and Pora a longer contract through the two-year visa.

The deal was made possible through John who did not want to reveal this until last Friday.

“Yes, I had made it possible for Pora to join me at Newtown and we’re glad because it will help us to go another step further in our game,” John said.

For Pora, it has always been a dream of his to play overseas. 

He had a chance in 2008 but visa problems stopped him from playing in Australia. 

An excited Pora, who is eyeing the 2013 World Cup, said he was looking forward to the trip.