Royals farewell Mack Siwi

By ‘Daddy’ JOHN SUPA
THE sudden passing of Mack Siwi last Sunday prompts me to write even though every time I want to type my fingers shake and tears roll down my cheeks.  
Siwi joins two other great rugby league players from Goroko Tuiyo Evei and David Buko.
The late three were Lahanis players who went on to become PNG Kumuls – they were my products from my Goroka police club Nowek Royals.
The trio’s popularity enhanced the club’s reputation as a pioneer in grooming future representative players out of nothing since 1991.
At the club’s humble beginning, former Goroka police intelligence chief Joe Bulhage, current Milne Bay PPC Lincoln Gerari, former Kumuls fullback Ipisa Wanega and I saw the need to engage settlement and village boys in sports, rugby league specifically, to stop them from crime.
Such was the club’s commitment to this project that at one time, in an intercity game against Rabaul Gurias in Kokopo, the Lahanis side was the entire Royals 13 on the paddock!
Apart from Evei, Buko and Siwi, Royals contribution to Lahanis and the Kumuls included Stanley Gene, Chris Sari, John Markham, Atu Mami Isoi, Ferdinand Nongkas, Koni Sari, current Lahanis coach Peter Danga, David Sergeant Sari, Makali Aizue, Douglas Uyassi, Sigfred Gande, Garnet Auwo, Sam Tobokina, Pasu Avani, Jeffery Bai, Nigel Hukula, Kenneth Liwayong, Abraham Henao, Eskay Dable, Damien Bage, Casey Frank, Winis Moihae, Bobby Mangope, Lawrence Kuso Jr, Limu Willie, Alphonse Utai Kapil, Michael Kari, Paul Nihute and Paul Homate.
Mack Siwi joined the club midway through the years of its dominance – he was a valuable asset who former coach Joe Zorro Lumaris would use as his lethal weapon, instructing the youngster to run straight at a big forward, do a slight sidestep before offloading the ball to a player on full flight. Mack would then back up that player, receive the ball again and the defence would be miles behind.
That was characteristic of Mack Siwi, one of the finest rugby league players I have ever seen.  
Mack was a strapping ball runner; if an opponent falls for his left foot dummy step, he was headed for the try line. He had that cunning ability to make passes to both sides, whether short or long. Mack had his trademark cut-out passes, resembling King Wally Lewis’ type passes.
Mack started his playing career in rugby union. He was a PNG Pukpuk in the late 1990s before I lured him to play rugby league, promising that I would make him a Lahanis.
I kept my promise but he refused the beer I offered when he made the side, saying that he needed to prove his capabilities first.
He did not wait long to be selected the country’s five-eighth. He also loved playing halfback although he adapted comfortably to being a three quarter, hooker, lock and fullback.
I eventually forced that beer down his throat!
Mack Siwi had a brief stint with Kongo Coffee Simbu Warriors last year but confided in me in Kundiawa after the Lahanis-Warriors game that he would always be a Lahanis man.    
He, Garmet Auwo, Tobokina, Anamo Gomia and Joe Ben — all Royals players — became part my family, with my three sons John Supa Kuks Jr, John Supa Kus and Kaupa Bonie.
They all shared one of the three rooms of my house at Seigu, while we shared the others.
These bigger boys never called me uncle; they always addressed me as “daddy” or “paps”; Mack in particular use to call me “daddy John”. 
His father Pat Siwi is the longest serving president of Goroka Rugby League.
We received the sad news last Sunday during the Lahanis’ trial match against Lae Snax Tigers at the National Sports Institute.
But the cause of his death in Port Moresby was not yet disclosed to us in Goroka.
Many in town who knew our family connections – from the buai vendor to the office workers – stopped in the streets to offer me their condolence, apart from shedding a tear or two.
Mack Siwi’s good mate Sam Tobokina hasn’t had dry eyes all week.
I am sure when Mack Siwi arrives in Goroka this morning (Friday), Sam and all of us at Royals will for the last time parade the Goroka Airport tarmac in our favourite red, blue and yellow jerseys to welcome him.
To Mack, son, I will have a carton of cold beer ready for you when you arrive. Please, come straight to JS Kona or Palms Tavern and join us before you continue your final journey by road to Chimbu and onto your final resting place.
On behalf of your Seigu residence family and the Royals Rugby League Club of Goroka, Daddy John says, “Welcome back to Goroka, son, you are one of my heroes”.