Lae to host Kumuls

THE Lae Rugby League Ground will host its second major fixture this year when the PNG LNG Kumuls take on the England Knights on Oct 27.
The Morobe capital’s last big game was the Q-Cup round 19 clash between the SP PNG Hunters and the Norths Devils on July 22 which saw more than 6000 fans jam into the LRL with thousands straining to watch the action from outside the venue and from a nearby hillside.
The Lae league under president Adrian Chow is expected to build up promotion for the first international fixture with fans from the Highlands, Mamose and New Guinea Islands region expected to flock to the city next weekend.
The last time Lae hosted an international match was in 2011 when an estimated 16,000 fans turned out at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium to watch the Prime Minister’s 13 clash between Australia and PNG. Australia won 36-22.
Meanwhile, PNG Residents Under-23 centre Stanford Talita, pictured, has pulled out of the Kumuls squad after being named as one of three players from last weekend’s win over New South Wales Country called into the coach Michael Marum’s squad for the series against the Knights.
Talita, hooker Woods Kawage and five-eighth Edwin Ipape, were added to national squad after starring in the Residents’ 18-12 win over NSW Country in Port Moresby last Sunday.
PNG LNG Kumuls coach Marum confirmed that Talita had ruled himself out citing examinations as the reason. Talita, who also played for the PNG Prime Minister’s 13 last year, was replaced by fellow Residents centre Brendon Nima.
“Stanford has pulled out from the Kumuls squad to prepare for his examinations at the Port Moresby Business College next week,” Marum said.
“We have accepted his decision to leave and the Kumuls management formally released him on Monday.
“To replace him, we have called in another centre in Brendon Nima from the PNG U23 Residents,” Marum added.
The locally-based Kumuls — the PNG Hunters players in the squad — were in camp on Monday with some Australian-based players joining in yesterday.
Rhyse Martin and Dan Russell were not available for the series while Willie Minoga and Edene Gabbie were dropped.
The Kumuls play the Knights in their opening match on Saturday, Oct 27 in Lae and the following Saturday (Nov 3) at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. Kumuls squad: 1. David Mead, 2. Junior Rau, 3. Kyle Laybutt, 4. Nene Macdonald, 5. Justin Olam, 6. Lachlan Lam, 7. Watson Boas, 8. Moses Meninga, 9. James Segeyaro, 10. Stanton Albert, 11. Nixon Put, 12. Wellington Albert, 13. Rhadley Brawa, 14. Dilbert Isaac, 15. Enoch Maki, 16. Tommy Butterfield, 17. Zev John; Shadows: 18. Edwin Ipape, 19. Woods Kawage, 20. Brendon Nima.