Signing for Tigers

By PARKER TAMBUA
PAPUA New Guinea-born Jimmy Ngutlik has joined the Wests Tigers’ Jersey Flegg Cup (Under-20) side in the New South Wales Rugby League with a view to progress through to Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL).
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe told The National yesterday that the 20-year-old, from Kokopo, East New Britain, had been signed to join the NRL club’s pathway programme.
Pascoe said Ngutlik, who was with Queensland Intrust Super Cup side Redcliff Dolphins in the pre-season, was not in the Tigers’ top-30 squad.
Another Papua New Guinean, Kumuls fyler Edene Gebbie, is on a train-and-trial deal at Concord.
Pascoe said the young back had enough potential to reach the NRL.
“Jimmy arrived (in Sydney) last week and he is with our Jersey Flegg side which is the extended squad,” Pascoe said.
“Jersey Flegg is the correct pathway programme to our NRL side.
“If he (Ngutlik) can play well there then he has a chance to make the first grade squad.”
Meanwhile, Ngutlik was unable to comment about his arrival at the Tigers.
“I really don’t want to talk about it as I only got here last week,” he said.
“I am yet to play a game in the Jersey Flegg so I won’t comment at this stage.”
However, Ngutlik said his long-term goal was to play for the PNG Kumuls.
“Yes, I aspire to play for PNG one day,” he said.
“It’ll be a dream come true for me.”
Ngutlik is a former rugby union player who lined up on the wing and at centre for Wests Lions in the Australian Capital Territory Rugby Union (ACTRU) in Canberra before he switched to rugby league in 2018.
The Tigers Jersey Flegg side is coached by Wayne Lambkin who is a well-respected mentor at junior level.
Lambkin helped Queensland Origin representative Daly Cherry-Evans reach the NRL while he was the coach of Manly’s junior side in 2010. Ngutlik will benefit from Lambkin’s experience.