Kumuls to play Bati in June test in Sydney

The National Sports

By ISAAC LIRI
MEMBERS of the Papua New Guinea Kumuls playing in the English Super League won’t be considered for next year’s test against Fiji.
English super league players include Kumuls captain David Mead and veteran Paul Aiton from the Paris-based club Catalans Dragons and Wellington Albert from the Widnes Vikings.
PNG Kumuls coach Michael Marum said they would be looking to include players from the NRL such as Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Nene MacDonald (St George Illawarra Dragons), James Segeyaro (Cronulla Sharks), Kurt Baptiste (Sydney Roosters), Rhyse Martin (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm).
Marum said the SP PNG Hunters in the Q-Cup were once again be expected to make up the majority of the national side while possibilities for selection of players in the Digicel Cup would be based on form.
The Kumuls squad will be announced on June 16 and the team will assemble on June 18 for the game on June 23 at the Campbelltown sports ground in Sydney. “Players in the English Super League won’t be part of the June test side, getting them to Australia and back is a bit of difficult so we will look at players from the NRL, Q-Cup, NSW Cup and Digicel Cup,” Marum said.
“We’ve been communicating with our NRL players and all of them are looking forward to wearing a Kumul jumper.
“I have spoken with James Segayaro recently as well as Melbourne Storm Coach Craig Bellamy on behalf of Justin Olam and Luke Page (Burleigh Bears) too and they’re all excited about the June test,” he said.
The Kumuls last played Fiji Bati in the 2016 Pacific test where they edged their fellow Melanesians 24-22.
“Fiji made the semifinals last year in the World Cup beating New Zealand and they will get their best players in the NRL so it’s going to be tough,” Marum added.
PNG Rugby Football League chief executive officer Reatau Rau said that the Kumuls were originally scheduled to play Lebanon however NRL then decided for a Fiji-PNG showdown after Lebanon withdrew from participation in the test fixture.