Posted By Staff Reporter
PAPUA New Guinea Gold looks to be the blueprint of what national selectors are looking for to play in Sunday week’s challenge against the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII.
That is fuelling the prospect of a no retreat grand final-like contest among the crème de la crème of rugby league talent when PNG Gold takes on PNG Red on Sunday. All the players know selection into the Prime Minister’s XIII will put them on the front foot for possible selection in the Kumuls to the World Cup. PNG Gold play PNG Red at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on Sunday, with kick-off set for 3pm. PNG Gold has the vast experience of top tip for likely Kumul five-eighth Jessie Joe Nandye playing outside stylish Gurias halfback Ase Boas and Charlie Wabo, the obvious back-up to James Segeyaro at dummy-half. When you add the Digicel Cup power-punchers in Enoch Maki, David Loko, Joe Bruno, Gonzela Urakusie, Richard Kambo and Mogi Wei Jr to the fray, it will take a special effort to win by the PNG Red side that is filtered with newcomers. The significance of Vipers skipper Larsen Marape and his Vipers engine room combatants in Sebastian Pandia and Adam Korave, Tigers prop Petero Sanivalu, Lahanis try sniffer Bernard Tatsim Jr and firebrand Isapea rake Lawrence Tu’u for PNG Red looks like the perfect recipe for the ‘blow-out’ that Kumul coach Adrian Lam wants to see. PNG Red coach Nigel Hukula yesterday said they were underdogs against an outfit that was sprinkled with seasoned Kumuls but hinted that if he could motivate the players individually to ensure they did the little things right they would be competitive. Hukula said Enga Mioks playmaker Roger Laka and Marape would play leading roles. While the Gold backs fit the bill in terms of size, and speed to play at the international level, Richard Kambo, Jason Tali, Thompson Teteh and Wellington Albert will come under extreme pressure from potential Kumul bolters in Gary Lo, Adex Wera, Francis Paniu and the human missile, George Benson. Lam said during the week he would not mind if there was feeling from players in both camps to show who really wanted to put his body on the line for a Kumul jumper. The NATIONAL Comments are closed.
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