Unitech prepare for rugby league challenge in Australia

By PISAI GUMAR
WITH eight days to go, 30 University of Technology students in Lae are preparing to travel to Australia for the four nations rugby league cup challenge.
The students will play teams from Britain and Australia. However, New Zealand pulled out due to the recent earthquake.
Student rugby league development officer Edward Gisoba said the PNG University Kundus would play the Australian University Kangaroos next Friday followed by another match against Great Britain on July 6.
On July 8, the Kundus will face Brisbane University before meeting an Australian Indigenous side.
He said the Kundus were focusing on the game against the Australian teams because most of the players were competing in the Toyota Cup challenge.
However, they will go down memory lane to 1973 when a team from PNG called the PNG Hitech played the Sydney Wollongong and James Cook universities and came out victorious.
It was around that time when the former Kumul halfback and current Northern Zone rugby league development officer Steve Malum caught the eyes of selectors.
The students are calling on business houses and the government to support them after paying for their medical checks, levy fees, passports and visas.
Digicel Pacific and Wia Trading Ltd are the only companies who have provided support so far.
Last weekend, the students organised a clean-a-thon from Snack Bar down Air Corps Road to Lae main market as part of their campaign to raise funds for their trip.
He said the PNG NRL Bid team chief executive officer Brad Tassel had helped the Kundus with national colour jumpers during the matches.