League, Kumul fans can hope

 WATCHING South Sydney end their four decade old premiership drought on Sunday was something to behold. 

The emotion that swept through ANZ Stadium at the sound of the full-time siren was reminiscent of a group of people who had finally reached their home after a long and arduous journey. 

A new batch of heroes for the famous myrtle and cardinal was created and one legend, Sam Burgess, was finally crystallised into Rabbitohs folklore. 

The team has looked likely for the past three years but always fell short. This year they actually made the final for the first time since 1971 and quite simply were never going to let this opportunity slipped by.

Souths fans in Papua New Guinea, those who only recently started following the Bunnies or the ones that had been with the side through thick and thin, at long last had something to cheer about and rightfully so – this is the most successful club in the National Rugby League, having won 21 premierships since the competition was established in 1908.

But what lessons can be learned for fans, players and administrators of the sport here in PNG? For this story the moral is one of perseverance, of hanging in there and having the belief, tenacity and determination to carry on whatever the obstacle and challenge.

The country’s leading sport had for a long time failed to move to the next level. In a world where professionalism and a corporate approach have taken development of any sport to realms beyond imagination, PNG continued to struggle to catch up and join the rest of the herd. 

Even smaller nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga were able to surpass PNG. 

Events over the last three years however indicate that the time has come to hope for bigger and better things.

Even then, the years of stagnation has made fans weary of backing a team (the Kumuls) that has yet to win any match of importance or make an impact at a World Cup. 

But still the fans continue to rally behind the Kumuls because for them there is no other side to back. 

Much like ardent, green-and-red-eyed Rabbitohs fans, it is Kumuls or bust.

This Sunday in Kokopo the PNG Prime Minister’s XIII faces off against their Australian counterparts for the 10th time in the annual fixture. 

PNG has not been able to win a match although one has been drawn and the margins have been competitive over the years.

With a new coach in Queensland Origin legend Mal Meninga expectations are set high. 

Will we be competitive enough to be in a winning position? 

Will Meninga’s Maroons touch rub off on the players? 

Will Michael Marum finally be given credit for the work he has done in developing and molding the team and players in Meninga’s absence? 

And can we actually dare to dream that maybe a win is not firmly in the realms of the impossible but to be decided on the field?  

Fans are yearning for the national team to turn the table for once on the all-conquering Kangaroos. 

Rugby league in this country has made significant strides in player development over the last three years, especially with the Hunters team in the Queensland Cup.

The growth of the Digicel Cup and the revamped zone championships mean the sport is set for a successful period at some point in the not too distant future.

PNG sport is entering a renaissance. Starting next year after the Pacific Games, the country (Port Moresby) will be left with a group of international standard facilities that athletes and administrators have desperately needed for a long time.

Rugby league is the sport that is yet to make a return on its promise and potential but after a period of concentrated support the prospects look good.  

For the first time we can say the team is more professional in its training and preparation and that the gap between Australia and PNG has narrowed a little. The wins have been few and far between for the Kumuls but 2014 could be the breakout year. 

Will that golden period be started by a famous victory over what is essentially a Kangaroos Four Nations line-up we do not know? But we can hope.