Varage, Abavu helped Ottio switch

By JACK AMI
PORT Moresby Rugby League deputy chairman Wari Varage and former Kumul fullback Josiah Abavu played a role in helping the late Kato Ottio’s transition from volleyball to league.
The national volleyball representative switched code to try his hand in the country’s number one game and it was a testament to his talent and potential that he rose above the masses of league talent to be considered one of the country’s best players.
Ottio progressed from the Southern Nines in Port Moresby to Southern Confederate then to Prime Minister’s 13 to PNG Hunters and finally to the PNG Kumuls — all in the space of two seasons.
Ottio also has the distinction of being the only player to have made the Hunters and Kumuls without playing a single Digicel Cup match.
Brandy Peter and Edward Goma made the Hunters without Digicel Cup experience in 2015 but had already several Digicel Cup matches under their belt when picked for the Kumuls.
Varage said he was first acquainted with Ottio in 2011 when Abavu introduced the 17-year-old to him and urged him to give Kato a slot in his Maopa Paio side at the Southern Regional 9s.
“I saw his size and height and decided straightaway that we could use that,” Varage said.
Ottio returned the following year to play for Maopa Paio, helping Varage’s men to claim the Southern Region 9s Cup.
“In 2013 I brought him into the Dobo Warriors club and he played for us and ended up making the PRL squad for the Southern region trials at Sogeri.
“I mentioned his name to former PNGRFL chief executive officer Brad Tassel who then passed the message to former PNG Kumuls coach Mal Meninga at that time.”
Ottio was included in PMs 13 in 2014 and from there went on to make the Hunters the following year.
“When he was picked for the Hunters he gave me his first Hunters jersey as a keepsake.”
Varage said Ottio and the Abavu siblings Josiah, Anthony and Bland were like sons to him.