Kumuls trio to boost Ipswich Jets

THE North Ipswich reserve is going to be the home for three Papua New Guinean’s next season after the Ipswich Jets signed three Kumuls Test players.
The trio – Charlie Wabo, Nixon Kolo and Benjamin John – who played in the Four Nations campaign, have proved they could mix it with the best from Australia, New Zealand and England in October and November.
Jets coaches Ben and Shane Walker were assistant coaches for the Kumuls during the tournament to help them prepare for the campaign during a week-long camp in Ipswich.
The Walker brothers, after they learnt the three stars would only be playing in PNG’s national competition next season, decided to do everything they could to book them berths at the Jets.
“They are all too good to be playing in PNG,” Ben said.
“All of them will be in our Queensland Cup team at some point during the season, definitely.
“They performed well against the best players in the world so they are Queensland cup standard.
“Jets’ fans will love these guys. They are good blokes as well as good players and they will be doing some community work during their stay here.
“A few of the boys in the PNG team played professionally in England and, while there, they made such an impression that their UK fans actually travelled to all their Four Nations games just to watch them.”
Ben said Kolo, a 100kg prop, was an immense talent.
“In the match against England, Kolo destroyed Sam Burgess and the English forward pack,” he said. “He has amazing potential.”
Wabo, a hooker or lock, has been plying his trade in England’s professional ranks for several years.
He became a cult figure  for England’s championship one team the Hunslett Hawks and even has a Facebook appreciation page dedicated to him.
And John is a livewire dummy half or halfback who zips around the ruck.