Marum warns players

By PARKER TAMBUA
NATIONAL coaching director Michael Marum has warned that Digicel Cup players need to improve their discipline to progress in rugby league and help improve the domestic game.
The Papua New Guinea Kumuls coach made reference to Port Moresby’s Sunday double-header at the Oil Search National Football Stadium (NFS) where punches were thrown and profanities exchanged.
“It’s sad to see that we (players) want to get involved in a fight on many occasions,” former Rabaul Gurias coach Marum told The National yesterday.
“There’s a lot of things the coaches need to work on, especially in terms of discipline. We can’t just blame players.
“I saw the game between Kimbe Cutters and Central Dabaris at the NFS on Sunday.
“It’s sad seeing them, like every time they ran up for a tackle, they went for a punch.
“This is not the way we should be playing. The same happened in the game between Mt Hagen Eagles and Gulf Isou.
“If you want to become a better player then you have be disciplined, get your attitude right.”
Meanwhile, the 2017 SP Hunters premiership-winning coach said he had seen a lot of potential in the semi-professional competition this season.
“No doubt, there are a number of players who have stood out this season,” he said.
“But the other thing is they need to play consistent week in, week out. Some of them play really well in one game and they don’t perform in the next round.
Marum said the amount of errors in games was also another concern.
“These are some of the areas we are still lacking and it’s up to all clubs and their respective coaches to fix it,” the Kumuls coach said.