Players arrive for Legends of League match in good spirits

By KEVIN TEME
THE Australian rugby league legends arrived in the country yesterday from Brisbane for the Ela Motors Legends of League match to be played in Port Moresby on Saturday.
To add a PNG flavor to the game, PNG league stars who have tasted the National Rugby League in Adrian Lam, Marcus Bai, John Wilshire and David Westley all arrived with the team yesterday.
This sets an exciting weekend which will feature former NRL stars Nathan Blacklock, Wilshire ( St George Illawara Dragons), Bai, Scott Hill (Melbourne Storm) and other NRL and Queensland Cup stars players lining up for the challenge at the Lloyd Robson Oval.
The Legends of League match to be played between SP Queensland Maroons and the Bisley New South Wale Blues has been hailed as a step in the right direction for the PNGNRL Bid team.
“It is indeed a great concept and I commend the PNGNRL bid team for this concept that will bring former stars up to PNG and showcase some of their skills which is definitely what the locals will want to see and also it will encourage the young kids,” former NRL star and PNG Kumuls captain, John Wilshire said on arrival at the Jackson International Airport with the first lot of players.
The second lot will arrive this afternoon at 1pm.
Wilshire’s former teammate at St George Illawara, Nathaniel Blacklock said it was great to have the game up here as the people of PNG were more passionate about rugby league.
He was sure to have an exciting time in their short stay in Port Moresby.
“It’s good to bring legends like Marcus Bai and others up and play here.
“The people here are very good people and they are more passionate about this game.
“The last time I came here was amazing,” Blacklock said.
“I could hardly see the land but saw only the heads of people wanting to see us coming out of the terminal here.
“It’s a good experience to come back and play here,” the former Dragons winger said.
PNG NRL Bid chief executive officer Brad Tassell said never before had such an event like this been staged in PNG and rugby league fans were very fortunate to have this opportunity to see some of the stars of previous years in action again.
“It is up to everyone in PNG to support the event and have a good attitude to enjoy the match and show all the things that are good about PNG,” Tassell said.
“I can not stress how important this game is to the people and the country of PNG.
“A successful event will give us the chance to secure pre-season NRL games so the onus is on us to show that we all deserve this opportunity,” he said.
Players who arrived yesterday were Nathaniel Blacklock, David Peachey, Jamie Goddard, Scott Hill, Ronald Gibbs, Leo Dynevor, Justin Loomans, Marcus Bai, Sidney Domic and John Wilshire.