Strive to be the best as ambassadors of PNG

Hello there to all our rugby league families and friends back home in Papua New Guinea and abroad. Welcome to the 30th edition of Coach’s Corner in your favourite rugby league newspaper — The National.
We arrived safely in Sydney on Monday night. Justin Olam joined the PNG LNG Kumuls when we arrived in Sydney. We are polishing up on our preparations. The boys are getting on well and team morale is good.
Captain Rhyse Martin is keeping the team together and focused on the task ahead. Lekiellia Brown joined the Oil Search PNG Orchids team in transit through Brisbane and they too are settling in well.
I am overseeing their preparations as well. Co-captains Janet John and Angela Watego are also keeping them focused.
Every athlete selected in any sporting code to represent his or her country must have pride. It is an honour and privilege to wear the black, red and gold of PNG. It is an opportunity each person must value and not take for granted. It takes hard work and sacrifice to get to this level.
Team and individual discipline is paramount. This is a team sport and everyone from the coaching staff to the players has a role and responsibility to play. We must not let ourselves, our families, sponsors and our beloved country down. We must at all times strive to give our best.
Back in 2003 and 2004, I was privileged to be part of the Kumuls sevens team that took on the NRL teams in Sydney.
In 2003, I played alongside the likes of Stanley Gene, Marcus Bai and Adrian Lam to name a few. Bob Bennett was our coach. We won one game.
The following year in 2004, we had in the team unknown players like Chris Purkikil, Geno Kima and Ricky Sibiya. We won all our pool games and advanced to the semifinals where we got beaten by the Parramatta Eels.
The Eels went into the grand final against Wests Tigers with the Tigers winning the 2004 Sevens Cup in Sydney. Sibiya completed the tournament as the top try scorer and top points scorer.
The 2019 inaugural Rugby League World Cup Nines sees PNG as one of four teams representing their nations in the men and women’s categories. The others are Australia, New Zealand and England.
This shows that we are recognised by the international rugby league community as a rugby league nation in the world.
Sydney time is one hour ahead of PNG Time. Therefore, the times for our games are in PNG time.
The tournament kicks off tomorrow evening at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta. The Orchids face England at 5.45pm.
The Kumuls play their first Pool-A game against the United States at 8.25pm.
Interestingly, our other Pool-A opponents — Australia and New Zealand — play each other before our US clash. It will be good for us to see the way these two teams perform.
On Saturday, the Orchids face New Zealand at 10.30am and the Kumuls meet New Zealand at 12.45pm.
At 4.15pm, the Kumuls play Australia and this will be followed by the Orchids taking on Australia at 4.40pm.
The top-two women’s teams will play in the final later in the evening to determine the champions.
The top-two teams in Pool A — PNG, Australia, New Zealand and US — will qualify for a semifinal spot against the winners only from Pool B — England, France, Lebanon, Wales — and Pool C — Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa.
The two winners meet in the final later in the night.
There are many fellow Papua New Guineans living in Sydney and the surrounding areas, and we look forward to seeing them tomorrow.
The Kumuls test team to play Fiji in the second leg of the Oceania Cup Pacific Test in New Zealand on Nov 9 and the Great Britain Lions in Port Moresby on Nov 16 will be named early next week after the nines are completed this weekend.
Well done to all the affiliated leagues that have completed their seasons. Congratulations to the teams that won the premierships.
Prepare for the eliminations in the respective confederations which will start soon.
The eventual winners will represent the confederation at the national club championships scheduled for next month.
Until next week, play hard, play safe and play by the rules in whatever sport you are competing in.
If you are a spectator or supporter, remember there is no room for violence in any sport.

Cheers,
Mikz