League, media stalwart passes

Normal, Sports
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The National, Tuesday 06th December 2011

THE rugby league and media community is in mourning following the death of former Kumul and print journalist Jack Metta on Sunday night.
It is believed Metta in his late 50s succumbed to heart failure.
He played lock forward for the PNG Kumuls in the 1970s.
He worked extensively in the newspaper industry thereafter as a sports editor for Niugini Nius in the 1980s and then a sub-editor and sports edi­tor for the The National newspaper punctuated by a stint at the Post Courier before leaving the media business two years ago.
The man from Gulf province but Lae-raised was passionate about rugby league owing to his playing days in Lae and Goroka.
He along with Australian Rob Cochrane edited and published the extremely popular Rugby League Weekly in the early 1990s.
A laidback character with an ability to capture in words the poignant and yet mundane aspects of PNG society Metta wrote revealing commentaries on life through his Root Matters column in The National.
At the time of his death he was attached with the Digicel Cup side the Gulf Isapeas, a franchise run by him and several other prominent Gulf personalities including lawyer Sarea Soi martial artist Jamuga Stone and fellow veteran journalist Martin Liri.
And already the accolades have begun flowing in for him.
Current editor-in-chief for The National Frank Senge Kolma, who initially worked under Metta before becoming his boss, recalled with fondness his former colleague and mentor.
“I never played the game of rugby league but knew of the great deeds of Metta from college days.
“I started work as a sports reporter for the Niugini Nius where he was then sports editor.
“He was an excellent and supporting mentor for a young journalist learning the ropes,” Kolma said.
“As a journalist and commentator he brought to magical life the simple and the mundane aspects of PNG, finding in them inspirational and philosophical messages.
“He was a tremendous friend, humble always and standing up for the underdog or those unable to themselves.”
Rugby league administrator Ivan Ravu, who had a close association with Metta from their tertiary education in Goroka in the early 1970s said he was saddened to hear of Metta’s passing and extended condolences on behalf of the rugby league community to the family.
“Jack was tough on the field but a nice guy off it,” Ravu said.
“But he was a hard-tackling workaholic and that’s what made him a Kumul.
“On behalf of PNG rugby league I offer my sincere condolences to his wife and children.”
Senior public servant Soiait Williams said Metta would be remembered by his peers and those old enough to witness his playing days as a legend of the sport.
As a commentator and critic he said Metta was both insightful and concerned about the development of the sport.
“He had charisma and class and he was a good guy,” Williams said.
“He was a true nationalist and proud Papua New Guinean.”