PNGRFL confirms availability of NRL players for tournament

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has confirmed that National Rugby League players will be available for Kumuls selection for the inaugural Oceania Cup against Samoa next month.
The Kumuls are in pool B with Samoa and Fiji. Australia, New Zealand and Tonga make up pool A. The Kumuls last played Samoa at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with the Polynesians beating PNG to advance to the qualifying finals.
Other international clashes this year are the Pacific Games in July in Apia, Samoa, Rugby League Nines World Cup and the British Lions tour.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said since the Oceania Cup was a Rugby League International Federation-sanctioned tournament, NRL players would be available provided that they were injury-free and gained a release from their clubs.
Injury-free NRL players eligible to suit up for PNG are Brisbane Broncos rake James Segeyaro, Canterbury Bulldogs forward Rhyse Martin and North Queensland Cowboys hooker Kurt Baptiste.
North Queensland’s Nene Macdonald remains on the sidelines after suffering a broken ankle last month.
South Sydney Rabbitohs flyer Alex Johnston had a knee surgery earlier this month and is expected to be sidelined for up to four weeks.
Tsaka said the Kumuls would be announced on June 16, with the side still under the guidance of head coach Michael Marum.
“We have a huge pool of elite players based overseas, who coach Marum is in touch with all the time,” Tsaka said.
He said the selectors and Marum were in the process of finalising the team.
Kumuls coach Marum said earlier this year that overseas-based players would be considered for selection.