Praises from Tongia

NEW Kumul fullback Ryan Tongia, 20, is so impressed with his teammates he says playing in  the Four Nations this month will be an experience.
The Cronulla-bound fullback has nothing but praise for his fellow Kumuls, heaping accolades and saying he was honoured to be part of the team.
“Some of our boys have huge potential and they wouldn’t be out of place in the NRL,” Tongia, a former Gold Coast Titans U20 star, said.
He singled out five-eighth, Dion Aiye, Jessie Joe Parker, Nixon Kolo and Charlie Wabo as possessing the skills and rugby league intelligence to make it in the world’s premier competition.
“Wabo can do anything, I’d put him there with Robbie Farah while Dion (Aiye) is probably the most naturally gifted player I’ve played with.
“With Jessie, you know he’s all class and he can do the job.
“Nixon has the potential to be one of the best props in the business. 
“He’s got excellent skills,” Tongia said.
The Kavieng-Chinese and Central lad said he would love nothing better than to emulate former clubmate and incumbent Kumul custodian David Mead’s rise, adding that the Four Nations was his chance.
“I’d like to do what David did. He came in young, was given an opportunity and took it with both hands and now he’s a regular first grader in the NRL and one of the best players,” Tongia said.
He also backed his coach Stanley Gene, saying the PNG legend had achieved a lot as a player, and now as a coach and was well respected.