NRL experience needed

By ISAAC LIRI
AFTER assessing the recent Prime Ministers 13 game where Papua New Guinea were thrashed 58-0 by a star-studded Australian line-up, Kumuls coach Michael Marum says the country needs players in Australia’s National Rugby League as well as the English Super League in order to be competitive against Australia, New Zealand and England.
“Other Pacific Island countries like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have a lot of players in the NRL and what PNG lacks is NRL experience. I think what we need is for our players to be in the NRL,”Marum said.
“We have to compete with the top side Australia, New Zealand and England to improve our game, our boys play Intrust Super Cup which is a good level but again we really need more playing in the NRL, with that week-in-week-out experience.”
Australian Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga shared similar sentiments on the matter about NRL and Super League experience for PNG players.
“Michael’s right but it’s a long journey. Having players play in the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland is an obvious pathway for a lot of the NRL and English Super League clubs,” Meninga said.
“It’s a talent identifying process and every year there are players going into the NRL. It’s a long whole process and it is not an overnight fix. It’s going to take a very long time and requires patience,” the former Kumul coach said.
Supporting his former colleague, Meninga mentioned that PNG had some naturally gifted footballers who exhibited the raw talent and skills that would put the Kumuls in good stead for next year’s World Cup and beyond.
“Michael’s got some players in the National Rugby League and in England as well and PNG beat Fiji in the May test with players like David Mead and Nene Macdonald.
“So we’ve got to be reasonable about it, don’t get distraught because of the score line, there is still a bright future for the game up here.”
Leading to the World Cup, Marum said he was now in a position to assess the players and pick the best possible side to represent the country at the tournament.