Team is settling in, ready for Scotland: Natusch

 PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls team general manager Matthew Natusch says the side has settled in relatively well in Hull.

They arrived in the northern port city, population 573,300, on Tuesday evening (UK time) after a 26-hour trip transiting through Singapore and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“We’re settling in relatively well here in Hull. The weather is grey, overcast and chilly, around about 10 degrees, so the boys have to quickly get used to the English conditions, even after a long flight,” Natusch said from the Villag Urban Resort Hotel yesterday morning.

“We’ve got no issues, everything is good. The boys are taking in the sights with short walks. The food is good. We’re just trying to control the volume  and keeping the boys focused.”

Natusch said none of the Kumuls team processes had changed and for the team it was business as usual.

“We’re doing things like having some of our guys get treatment for minor niggles (injuries). Menzie Yere, who joined the side along with fellow England-based Jason Chan, has a shoulder problem but he’ll be okay.

“The team will have training sessions indoors as well as a pool session to get out the jet lag and general soreness from a long plane flight. We’ll then start with a video session where they look at footage of defensive patterns and things like that.

“The main priority is to quickly get used to the surroundings and start our preparation for our first match, the warm-up against Scotland ton Saturday.”

“We just want to keep focused and the management team will be continuously monitoring the players to make sure they are ready for the matches ahead.”

The team went for a light training run at Hessle Park which is close to their hotel.

Former Kumuls and now Hull residents Stanley Gene and John Okul visited the team on their checking in at the hotel and are expected to lead the PNG fans on Saturday and throughout the Group B matches.

The Kumuls will play Scotland in their only warm-up game on Saturday at Big Fellas Stadium in Hull.

The teams will be allowed to field up to 18 players with an unlimited interchange rule in effect.

Lam has said previously that Scotland will provide a challenge of the same quality and intensity as France, who are the Kumuls’ first Group B opponent on October 27 at Craven Park home of local Super league side the Hull Kingston Rovers.