Kumuls prospects emerge in Queensland schoolboys side

FIVE Papua New Guinea Kumuls prospects in Cooper Bai, Philip Coates, Jarrod Horne, Zac Kumbamong and Sam Stephenson have been named in the Queensland Schoolboys Under-18 side.
The five were selected from the Queensland State selection trials held at the Cbus Super Stadium last weekend.
Kumuls legend Marcus Bai, who is Cooper’s father, told The National yesterday that the crop of young talents with PNG heritage playing together at that level had the potential to benefit the national team in the future.
“They select the side (Qld U18) from the South Coast side that competed in the Queensland Schoolboys trials over the weekend.
“Cooper is one of five other Papua New Guineans selected. Cooper missed out last year due to a lower back injury that ruled him out so it was good for him to show them what he has and build that confidence against the best players in Queensland.
“His (Cooper’s) mum and I are glad he went through the weekend okay and being selected with his best mates in Philip Coates, Sam Stevenson, and Zac Kumbamong is great for them.” Cooper Bai and Kumbamong play in the back-row while Stevenson and Coates, who is the younger brother of Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates, are centres.
“They’re a good bunch of boys playing together and will only get better for our country in the future. There are more out there awaiting opportunities. For Copper, his mum and I are happy for him but he’s still got a long way to go.” Meanwhile Bai and Coates will play for Burleigh Bears U19 side in the Mal Maninga Cup grand final against Tweed at Kayo Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.