BY EPHATA SAMUEL “You are the heroes of PNG. You are the heroes in the eyes of your peers and your families. You have proven to the world of rugby league that PNG can be and will be a team to be reckoned with over the next few years,” State Enterprise minister Ben Micah said when welcoming the PNG U19 inaugural Commonwealth rugby league nines champions back to Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby yesterday morning. “You are the team to beat Australia at the next World Cup in 2017,” Micah said. “Past Kumuls have beaten every other nation except Australia and you have done it,” he said. The minister said he was not only proud but deeply humbled to be in the presence of heroes, young heroes of PNG. Micah who is the brainchild of the Team Kumul program said the recruitment of Mal Meninga was to coach a Kumul side to beat the Australians at the next World Cup. “I was told it would take 10 years or more to achieve that. But you boys have fast tracked that and we can do that in the next few years,” Micah said. “The boys you played against will be the Kangaroos and you will be the Kumuls. You’ve beaten them now and when you next meet, you will wallop them. That one day is on the horizon now to beat Australia. The minister gave assurance that more funds will be pumped into the Team Program as they have put confidence in the 7 million citizens of PNG. “More funds will be given to assist you in preparing to beat Australia. That is my challenge to you all.” He said the Team Kumul program was aimed at developing character and becoming good citizens. “Look after yourselves. Watch what you eat and who you go around with,” Micah said. PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said the PNGRFL was extremely proud of their performance and thanked the sponsors for supporting the program and these young boys. “I said before their departure that they were the cream of rugby league in the country. They have proven that and we will nurture and keep in contact with everyone of them as they are the future of our game,” Tsaka said. “We have the bragging rights for the next four years as rugby league champions in the Commonwealth and nobody will take that away,” a very happy Tsaka said. “PNG won gold in lawn bowls and swimming. We are the third to win gold,” he added. PNG beat Australia 22-8 to win the inaugural gold of the Commonwealth rugby league championships in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday. The team returned yesterday morning and left for their homes in the afternoon. Comments are closed.
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Papua New Guinea Kumuls Breaking News & Match Reports and highligntsRugby League News by CategoryBringing all the latest rugby league news in PNG. If you want to contribute to this site with articles relating to sports please contact us here World CupPM'S XIIIDowner Rugby League 9s World Cup- PNG Kumuls 0 Australia 26
- PNG Kumuls 18 New Zealand Kiwis 18 - PNG Kumuls 23 USA Tomahawks 10 Pacific Test Results2019 - PNG Kumuls 28 Great Britain Lions 10
2019 - Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 20 2019 - PNG Kumls 6 Samoa 24 2018 - PNG Kumuls 26 Fiji Bati 14 2017 - PNG Kumuls 32 Cook Islands 22 2016 - PNG Kumuls 24 Fiji Bati 22 2015- Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 22 World Cup Results
Round 1 : PNG Kumuls 50 Wales 6 Round 2: PNG Kumuls 14 Ireland 6 Round 3 PNG Kumuls 64 USA 0 Quarter Finals : PNG Kumuls 6 England 36
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