Remember great Kumuls legends

I WAS sad to learn of the passing of one of the great Kumuls fullback, Phillip Boge.
A man who came through the ranks of our local rugby league system to make his mark in the big arena of the Rugby League world.
As a kid growing up in the nineties, it was exciting to watch the then SP Inter-City Cup team the Port Moresby Vipers.
Many great and entertaining players adorned the vipers jumper, players like Tuksy Karu, Michael Toivita, Aquila Emil, Elias Paiyo and of course one of them was the great man himself, Phillip Boge.
My most vivid memory of Boge would be the test match played in Cairns between the Kumuls and the Kangaroos.
Who would forget Michael Hancock after receiving the ball from Mal Meninga and running down the right side touch line to score what was no doubt a definite try.
Standing between the try line and Hancock was none other than the lad from Hanuabada.
Boge came flying like a human missile, hitting Hancock so hard, driving him out of field, saving a try and breaking Hancock’s ribs.
In the second half, he made a break from the Kumuls’ 40m to set up a try for one of his team mates.
As this year would be the Rugby League World Cup, I as a fan raise my hat and salute the great man for his efforts and contribution to Papua New Guinea through the game of Rugby League.
I call upon PNGRFL (PNG Rugby Football League) to come up with an organisation to remember such greats like Phillip Boge and many other past players who have passed on and those that are still around.
These men are legends of our game, we must remember them, speak their names instead of remembering NRL stars.
I say thank you to the Boge family, thank you Phillip Boge, a great individual, a great Kumul but most of all a great Papua New Guinean.

Bobby Liriope
Madang Globe Trotters