Olam hopes for Coates’ allegiance

By PARKER TAMBUA
NATIONAL Rugby League (NRL) premiership winner Justin Olam is hoping Queensland Maroons winger and fellow Papua New Guinea international Xavier Coates maintains his allegiance with the Kumuls for next year’s Rugby League World Cup in England.
The 19-year-old, whose mother is from Kerema, Gulf, last night became the third PNG player after former Sydney Rooster Adrian Lam and former St George Illawarra Dragon Neville Costigan, to play for Queensland.
Melbourne Storm centre Olam told The National that it was possible that the Australian Kangaroos could swoop on the Brisbane Broncos winger to boost their World Cup campaign.
“He is an amazing player and we will definitely need his talent in next year’s World Cup,” the 26-year-old said.
“But given his talent, I am sure Australia would want to have him on their side as well. So I guess it is up to him as a player to make the choice and we can only respect whatever decision he makes.”
Kumuls coach Michael Marum said there would not be any issue with Coates’ eligibility despite playing for Queensland as Lam and Costigan had played for the Maroons and PNG.
“Costigan and Lam have done it before,” he said.
“I think he can still play for Queensland and PNG.
“Definitely he will be a big boost for us in the World Cup.
“We would love to have him.
“I will have a chat with him after the Origin series and see if he’ll maintain his allegiance with us.
“But after all, we will respect whatever decision he makes.”
The 194cm, 100kg Port Moresby-born flyer has played 15 NRL games so far.
Coates has so far played one test for PNG which was in the Kumuls’ 6 -24 loss to Samoa in Sydney last year.