Marum happy with World Cup draws

By PARKER TAMBUA
PNG Kumuls coach Michael Marum says the national team has progressed a lot over the years and they will build confidence going into the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.
Marum told The National on Tuesday that he was satisfied with the World Cup draws that were announced last week. The pool fixtures will see PNG face fourth ranked Tonga, Wales and Cook Islands with the top two teams to progress to quarterfinals.
He said Tonga, who are National Rugby League (NRL) dominated would offer his side’s biggest challenge but said he believed in what the Kumuls had achieved in recent years.
“It’s a good draw. I’m happy and looking forward to it,” Marum said.
“Tonga will not be easy, they will have former Kangaroos and Kiwis as well as all NRL players but as for us, we are building a good team as well.
“The focus now is for all our boys playing in NRL, Super League, second-tier clubs in England and Intrust Super Cup boys to complete 2020 season on a high and stay healthy leading up to the World Cup.
“We have some new players who may have a crack at NRL this year like Edene Gabbie and Xavier Coates while Justin Olam is now a regular as well as our guys in the UK who are doing great.
“We will be consistent in terms of selections and make the team stronger as we go along.”
He said he was hoping for Nene MacDonald to join an NRL club and Kurt Baptiste to be ready and was also anticipating young players coming through in Hunters and Australia to perform to earn their spots
Marum said the Kumuls did well by moving from 14th to 10th and currently at sixth spot on the Rugby League International Federation rankings.
He said the Kumuls as a team had improved significantly since the 2013 World Cup.