Kumuls miss NRL talent

SOME of Papua New Guinea’s National Rugby League talent will not be available
for the representative season.
James Segeyaro, David Mead and Nene McDonald
are unlikely to be picked for the Prime Minister’s XIII match or the test match
against Tonga following week.
PNG Rugby Football League chief executive
officer Brad Tassell said during the week the trio would most likely be
unavailable because of eligibility rules and for personal reasons.
“We’d love to have them in but unfortunately for one reason or another it looks like they
won’t be available,” Tassell said.
“James (Segeyaro) declared his intention  to play Origin footy (Queensland) this year and that means he won’t be available  to represent PNG. With state eligibility rules the way they are, if you’re  committed to Queensland and then you play for another country, you won’t be
allowed to play for the state.”
Segeyaro, who returned to the country last
month following the death of his father Iffysoe, has been one of the standout
hookers of 2014 and his side the Penrith Panthers will play finals football this  year.
The 24-year-old represented the Prime Minister’s XIII last year and was
included in Adrian Lam’s World Cup squad to England but pulled out after
injuring his shoulder in that PM’s XIII match in Kokopo.
Mead, who played for  PNG at last year’s World Cup and first represented the country at the 2008 World  Cup in Australia, will not be available because he will be getting married next
month.
He represented New South Wales Country this year, signalling his  intent to play State of Origin.
“David’s getting married in October so that  rules him out. Rod Griffin (Ipswich Jets) is another player who is getting  married around the same time so he won’t be available either. With a hectic
regular season this is the only free time players get between the end of their
season and the start of pre-season training so it’s understandable.”
Nene  Macdonald is the other player that selectors were considering, however, the 20
year-old, who played three test, for PNG at the 2013 World Cup, could jeopardise
his chances of playing Origin football for Queensland after representing the
state at Under-20 level this year.
The 192-centimetre, 103-kilogramme  centre/winger is a big loss for the Kumuls.
Macdonald is part of the Sydney  Roosters top grade squad and could feature in this month’s finals
series.Tassell said South Sydney’s Alex Johnston had indicated his
availability and even though he played for NSW at U16 level in 2011.
Tassell
said Ray Thompson (North Queensland) as well as Wellington Albert (Penrith) and
Mark Mexico (Cronulla) were into contention provided they were fit.  The National