Marum wants Kumuls to win to match his uncle’s record

KUMULS head coach Michael Marum says he is hoping to match his uncle Skerry Palanga who coached the national team in their only win over Great Britain.
Marum told The National yesterday that Palanga coached the Kumuls in 1988, 1990-1992 and 1996.
Former Kumul Palanga lost to Great Britain 22-24 in his coaching debut in Port Moresby on May 22, 1988. But he bounced back in PNG’s 20-18 win over the visitors in Goroka on May 27, 1990.
One man Marum will be counting on to draw level with his uncle is experienced campaign David Mead, who returns from injury.
The 31-year-old starts at centre, a position he has grown accustomed to with the Catalans Dragons in the English Super League.
“The former Kumul captain has scored nine tries from 13 games and leads try-scoring table for the national team,” Marum said.
The former Gold Coast and Brisbane flyer will be making his 14th appearance against Great Britain at the National Football Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm kick-off).
Meanwhile, Marum says specialist winger Garry Lo’s promotion to the bench will give him more options in attack.
The former SP Hunters coach said it was hard to overlook Stargroth Amean and Edene Gebbie on the wing as they were in good form as with the rest of the backs.