Maleos prepare for Cup

THE Papua New Guinea Mixed and Men’s Netball Association will hold their trials for next year’s World Cup in Perth at the Rita Flynn courts on June 23.
The Maleos selection trials will be for their open mixed and open men’s squads, as well as for their new U23, U20 and U17 men’s squads.
The mixed and men’s World Cup will be in October 2020 and early selections mean adequate time for development and training, the association said in a media release.
The association is encouraging anyone who has athletic ability to come along to the trials and give it a go.
President Adam Parker said: “We fully understand that there are only a small number of males at this stage that play netball, but we also know that around the country men play mixed netball in regional competition.
“With the right focus and training, they can develop into great netballers. Our Trans-Pacific Cup Men’s Team only had 12 months of development and performed exceptionally well against the Australians, so we can teach netball.
“We are certainly encouraging males aged 13 and up to trial for the junior squads.
The U17 men’s squad will have two years’ development and training plus an international to have them ready to face the U17 Australian men’s team at the next Trans-Pacific Cup.
The U20 men’s may get the opportunity at the World Cup but will definitely be part of the Trans-Pacific Cup Series and the U23 men will be heading to the World Cup with the open mixed and men’s teams.”
The trials will start at 8.30am with the U17 and U20 men’s squads selection.
“We have separated the U17 and U20 men’s trials because we are under no illusions that those who do turn up will have limited to no netball experience so the trials format is slightly different. We actually don’t care if they have played or not.”
The U23 men’s, open men’s and open mixed squads selections start at 11.30am.