Spots wide open

WITH the Papua New Guinea rugby league Test team to be named after the Intrust Super Cup round nine clash against the Northern Pride on April 29, Kumuls coach Michael Marum has already started his selection process.
The Kumuls will face the Cook Islands in a revamped test schedule in Sydney on May 6.
PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka said the national selectors would meet this Easter weekend and a squad would be pencilled in and announced after Easter, with injuries, judicial results and form dictating changes over the course of the next three weeks until the final 18-man squad is named the day after the Pride match.
Among the names that will be automatic inclusions, if fit, are David Mead, pictured, who has spent most of the season playing for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Cronulla Sharks rake James Segeyaro (if he makes himself available), Canberra Raiders pair Kurt Baptsiste and Kato Ottio (has yet to play a NSW Cup match for the Mounties after recovering from major knee surgery), Nene Macdonald (St George Illawarra Dragons), Rhyse Martin (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Rod Griffin (Canterbury Bulldogs).
Under the new International Rugby League Federation eligibility rule, a player can now represent a second country he qualifies for under the criteria (residency, direct parentage, birth or place of birth of a grandparent) meaning Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston, who played for Australia in 2014, can don the red, black and gold if he chooses to.
But Marum will also have his eyes firmly set on the Q-Cup, which is expected to provide the bulk of his squad.
Justin Olam’s form for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in last Saturday’s 38-14 thumping of Marum’s SP Hunters side brought out a word of praise from the normally-reserved mentor, who described his former charge as having an “outstanding” game.
In the lead up to Saturday’s match, Falcons vice-captain Alex Bishop described the Olam as a “great ball runner” and a “class player” reaffirming the Simbu man’s credentials.
But Olam would not be the only player on Marum’s radar with Redcliffe recruit Thompson Teteh expected to be part of the Dolphins side to face the Hunters on Sunday at the National Football Stadium, another genuine contender for a Kumuls berth.
In round eight, Marum will get to see Kumulk prop Luke Page in action when the Hunters play the Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast.
Other PNG eligible players, outside of the Hunters, in the Q-Cup are Ipswich Jets Pandia brothers Richard and Sebastian, Ray Thompson (Townsville Blackhawks/North Qld Cowboys) and Tommy Butterfield (Easts Tigers).