Legends match on

By LESLIE OMARO
FORTY legendary Queensland and New South Wales rugby league greats will arrive in the country next month for a one-off “Legends of League” match in Port Moresby.
The match organised by the PNG NRL Bid office and sponsored by Ela Motors will be played at the Lloyd Robson Oval on Nov 19.
The legends will arrive on Nov 16 and will participate in community activities including an Ela Motors Legends dinner on Nov 17. 
The historic match will feature former Origin players like Sam Backo, Robbie O’Davis, David Peachey, Matt Geyer, Scott Hill, Andrew Walker, Les Davidson, Jamie Goddard, Kevin Campion, Max Krillich, Ray Price, Ron Gibbs, John Buttigieg, Adrian Vowles, Julian O’Neill, John Hopoate and Kerry Boustead.
Four former PNG Kumuls who played in the NRL and Super League competition in the United Kingdom will also feature in the match.
They are Marcus Bai, John Wilshere, David Westley and Adrian Lam.
Lam is the only Kumul to have played State of Origin for Queensland.
Bid CEO Brad Tassell, when announcing Ela Motors as naming rights sponsor for the match yesterday, said it was their goal to attract major events to promote the sport and to show that they could manage such exhibitions.
“The idea of bringing the legends match up here was initiated about three months ago.
“I think it’s fair to say that Papua New Guineans will embrace the concept because it will showcase how passionate they are about rugby league.
“When I told John (Wilshere) and David (Wesley) about the match the next day they went out and bought their boots, that’s how passionate they are about the game.”
Tassell said tickets for the match were K20 and would only be available at the venue on match day to avoid counterfeiting.
“I urge everyone that is coming to watch the match to be responsible fans,” he said.
Ela Motors national and sales marketing manager Rob McKeon said  the match along with the Bid’s development programmes were laying a foundation for rugby league in PNG and providing the youth with exposure to team culture and success in setting personal goals.
 Troy Byers from Legends of League said all the former players we’re excited about coming to PNG for the match.
“As a group we fully support the Bid’s desire to plan for a future inclusion into the NRL competition.
“This country is a rugby league nation and I really believe they deserve a shot at having a team. The bid is doing some amazing work with junior development, attracting these types of events and fielding a Queensland Cup team in 2013.
“They are building a really strong case for their own team and the NRLcannot ignore a country where rugby league is the national sport and where over 2 million people play the game here,” said Byers.