National team jersey presentation

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday July 8th, 2013

 I JUST want to add some remarks to a letter titled “Lets spark the Kumuls”. 

I agree that rugby league greats should be brought in to personally present Kumul jerseys to the current squad before they head off for the World Cup in October. 

I remember the memorable moment in 1986 when the Kumuls defeated the New Zealand Kiwis.

The man of the match award went to Arebo Taumaku who terrorised the Kiwis.

Others who contributed to the team’s  historic win were, Dairi Kovae, Heni Kila, Lauta Atoi and many more in that 1986 team.

The media reported that the coach of the Kiwis was sacked when the team returned home after the game. 

Up until now, no team donning the Kumul colours have come close to repeating that performance. 

So I urge the prime minister, the opposition leader and the PNGRFL to ask the members of the 1986 team to present jerseys to the players in this year’s World Cup squad.

I must also say that speed, enthusiasm and the athleticism of the current squad are way below that of the players from the 1980s and 1990s. 

Arebo Taumaku, Dairi Kovae, Tara Gau, Greenie Mea, Lauta Atoi, Gari and Mea Morea, Philip Boge, Tuksy Karu, the Kouoru brothers and many more performed at an unbelievable level. 

I am sorry to say this but the current squad have a lot of catching up to do. 

The Kumuls are not a regional team. 

They are a national team so I hope selections will be made on merit.

 

Rugby League Fan

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