Toringi grateful for second Cup chance

By PARKER TAMBUA
AFTER spending two years away from the Digicel Cup, Central Dabaris recruit Joash Toringi is ready to make the most of his second chance in the country’s big league.
The 27-year-old prop, from Yombi village in Ialibu, Southern Highlands, was a fringe player for the Port Moresby Vipers and Mendi Muruks over three seasons (2016-2018) but could not establish himself as a regular first grader.
Over the last two seasons, Toringi failed to attract any offers and was left out in the football wilderness but he remained hopeful of a Digicel Cup return.
Toringi made his Digicel Cup debut with the Vipers as a 22-year-old in 2016. He only played three matches with the Vipers that year before he joined his home team Mendi Muruks where he only played a handful of games between 2017 and 2018.
“I almost gave up rugby league after no Digicel Cup teams showed interest in me at the start of 2019,” Toringi told The National on Tuesday.
“I was without a team in 2019 and 2020 which was a challenge. I’ve always had this dream to be a regular player at this level and then make it as far as the SP Hunters and even the Papua New Guinea Kumuls.”
Toringi said not playing Digicel Cup in 2019 and last year was disappointing and frustrating because he probably had not marketed himself as well as he should have and was missing out on valuable time and opportunities to pursue his goals of establishing himself at that level and looking to impress
Hunters selectors.
“Despite the setbacks, I didn’t quit,” he said.
“I’ve always loved rugby league so after I left Muruks in mid-2018, I went back and joined my old club, Magani, in the Port Moresby Rugby Football League (POMRFL).
“While with Magani, we won the POMRFL title at the end of 2018.
“In 2019, I joined Butterflies. I played with them for two seasons.
“Last year, we were runners-up after losing to Tarangau in the grand final.
“I thank God for giving me another opportunity with the Dabaris this year and I take it with both hands.
“I am excited to play in the Digicel Cup again after a very long time.”
Toringi said even when he was a fringe player for the Vipers and Muruks, he was always committed and willing to make sacrifices.
One of the toughest challenges he faced in 2016 was dealing with the death of his father.
“It was my debut year in 2016,” Toringi said.
“I was attending training when I lost my dad.
“It was a very difficult time for me and I struggled to get my head settled and get back into training.
“I continued to train with the Vipers, I didn’t have any merchandise or training gear like other players.
“I was only a development player but I always attended training and paid my own bus fare every day despite not being included in the line-up.
“Other players used to tell me ‘you’re only a development player, you don’t have to attend training every day’.
“I’d say ‘commitment to training always gives me peace of mind regardless of whether I play or not’.
“So it took me the whole season to train before I could get my debut game in the last three rounds of the season.
“The next two seasons with the Muruks was the same. I played prop in only five matches in 2017.
“In 2018, I only played a few matches before I quit the Muruks mid-year.
“I thought I gave my best in training and on the field every time I got an opportunity.
“But for some reason, it wasn’t enough to make the coaches happy.
“This time, I want to change that.
“I aim to be an impact player for the Dabaris and try to be a consistent performer every week.”
Toringi said his immediate goal this year was to perform well in the Digicel Cup and make a representative side.
“I know it’s a very big ask but I think it’s possible to make the Kumuls squad for the Rugby League World Cup,” he said.
“I want to give my best for the Dabaris and get the attention of Kumuls selectors.
“Despite their selection criteria, they might still need a few players from the Digicel Cup.”
Toringi was raised in Kimbe, West New Britain. He first played rugby league at the age of 12 years old.
He played for Kimbe Primary School in the Kimbe Milo Schoolboys Under-15s and U17s.
In high school, he played for Hoskins Secondary School in the U19s.
Toringi also had a short stint in rugby union while he was attending college in Lae in 2013.
He was invited by the PNG Pukpuks U20 team for an overseas tour, but he could not make the team due to personal reasons.
Toringi said he had learned a lot from his experiences and hoped to make the most of his opportunity at the Dabaris in 2021.