Pandia defies odds to finish school, play in Queensland

By PARKER TAMBUA
IT was not easy for Richard Pandia to juggle education and semi-professional rugby league, but the Papua New Guinea winger was happy that he had completed his studies.
The 27-year-old graduated with a bachelor of business degree from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, last year.
Pandia completed his studies while playing full-time for Ipswich Jets in the Hostplus Cup.
While his education is a success story, it has so far been the same storyline on the field.
The Southern Highlander won the 2015 premiership and Inter-state Championship with Ipswich in his debut season in Australia’s second-tier competition.
Pandia’s club form saw PNG Kumuls coach Michael Marum hand him his representative debut against the Cook Islands in a mid-year Test at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney in 2017.
His second Test was against Fiji in 2018.
Pandia said he wanted a new challenge in 2022 and Souths Logan Magpies announced earlier this month that they had signed the flyer for the upcoming season.
He told The National last week that his successes were evidence that PNG players could juggle rugby league and education.
“Balancing my studies with rugby league and a part-time job was the hardest challenge I had gone through in Australia,” Pandia said.
“It takes a lot of commitment, time management, consistency and determination.
“Through that approach, I eventually found the balance and everything worked out well for me.
“Worked out well doesn’t mean things just ran smoothly, I got injured countless times while playing and that delayed my studies.
“With injuries, I couldn’t do my studies or couldn’t go to work so it wasn’t smooth, I had to take a step back and re-evaluate the situation and try to find a way through.”