Thanks for the memories

Sports

Hello there and welcome to the 35th and final edition of my comments in Coach’s Corner in your favourite rugby league newspaper — The National.
This paper has been our partner since the beginning of this year and have been supportive in all our news and adverts related to rugby league from the Coca Cola National Schools programs to the PNG LNG Kumuls and Oil Search PNG Orchids.
It was an exciting end to our 2019 International calendar.
The Papua New Guinea LNG Kumuls win over the Great Britain Lions will be one of my most memorable and treasured achievements of my career.
Families including parents, partners and children from PNG and overseas including sponsors and former Kumul greats Marcus Bai and John Wilshire joined the celebrations with the players and coaching staff in the dressing rooms.
The tone was set when the women beat the England WRL right on the full-time siren.
What an achievement that was. The game doesn’t end until the referee blows the fulltime whistle.
The hard work put over the past two months produced the results.
My advice to the players — men and women — is take a complete break from football for a few weeks.
Spend time with your families. You will be re-freshed and re-charged to resume the vigorous pre – season training schedules. Play well for your clubs and stay healthy.
The wins over the weekend has moved the Kumuls from 10th to sixth spot in the world rankings.
The Orchids moved from 6th to 4th spot. This is good for us in PNG and we can only move higher with more international fixtures scheduled for next year.
This is also good for us as we prepare for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England. That’s less than two years away.
Well done to Matthew Church who was appointed by the PNGRFL board as the new SP Hunters head coach.
He has retained the coaching staff headed by Solomon Kuluniasi, who started with me from day one back in 2014. They are the best in the business and I know will continue to support Matt and the Hunters team.
I acknowledge the efforts of Stanley Tepend and tipped him to get the nod.
However, I will respect the recommendations of the independent recruiting committee and decision by the PNGRFL board.
Whatever the future is for me, we will know in the New Year.
For now, I will be taking a break. To everyone, including our valued partners and sponsors, players, coaches, PNGRFL chairman, chief executive, board and staff, and the many volunteers and fans of the greatest game of all — enjoy the festive season.
Play hard, play safe and play by the rules in whatever sport you are competing in.
If you are supporting or watching, remember there is no room for violence in any sport and the community.

Cheers,
Mikz

Oil Search PNG Orchids forward Carol Humeu in action against England at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday. Humeu scored a try in the Orchids’ 20-16 victory. – Nationalpic by JASON KAVAN

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