Another PNG Hunters Player signs for a NRL Club

[mikail-eagle]

https://www.facebook.com/National-Football-Stadium-224085707930954/

Just been announced in a presser in Port Moresby that PNG Kumuls and Hunters winger Justin Olam has signed a 2 year deal with the Melbourne Storm starting in 2017.

Justin Olam (centre) flanked by PNGRFL CEO Bob Cuttmore and Hunters/Kumuls Coach Micheal Marum



Justin Olam who only debuted for the Hunters this year, is also currently their leading try scorer.

Ironically the winger spent 10 minutes of the Test against Fiji in the sin bin but still did enough to impress Melbourne's coaches.

 

[Evil Homer]

2019 Kangaroos rep

 

[hutch]

2019 Kangaroos rep

Has happened once, calm down.

 

[hutch]

Congrats to olam, the benefits of the hunters is really starting to show. Another PNG professional player at an NRL club and another local will be given a chance to impress for the hunters.

 

[mikail-eagle]

David Mead saw the potential in Justin Olam during that 1 single test match.


He tweeted the pic below after the Kumuls vs Fiji Bati Test Match with the words;

"This guy is a beast!!! Hope he gets an NRL contract soon. #JustinOlam Need more #Kumuls in #NRL"

 

[Mr Angry]

Good Luck Justin!!

 

[Sinman]

This is beautiful.. Melbourne Storm.. for all I haven't liked about them (wrestling, cheating and full of talented Queenslanders) are doing huge things for international development.. They have stolen talented Rugby players from NZ Union and given Islanders a go.. Watching Justin Olam at the game I thought he would be snapped up by someone!! The Pathway of the hunters is really starting to reap rewards!!

 

[jim_57]

Nice to see, should have a decent core of NRL players for the World Cup next year. Can't help but think the uptake of PNG talent would improve tenfold if thr Hunters could field under 16's and 18's teams to play Connell & Meninga Cups, the success rate of mature age signing to the NRL is always going to be limited.

Would also be nice to see more Super League clubs look to PNG for talent, quite a few have gone to Championship clubs. Realistically there probably wouldn't be a huge difference in playing levels between the bottom of SL and top of QLD Cup.

 

[jim_57]

NRL Clubs
Backs: Mead, McDonald, Ottio, Olam, Thompson
Forwards: Segeyaro*, Baptiste, Albert × 2, Griffin, Page

SL & Championship Clubs
Backs: Eliab, Aiye, Yere, Parker, Lo
Forwards: Aiton, Mexico

Anyone able to add to that?

Combine the best of these and the star Hunters and you have the makings of a decent squad. Still far too light on NRL & SL players for a country of 6 million RL nuts just north of Queensland.

 

[mikail-eagle]

NRL Clubs
Backs: Mead, McDonald, Ottio, Olam, Thompson
Forwards: Segeyaro*, Baptiste, Albert × 2, Griffin, Page

SL & Championship Clubs
Backs: Eliab, Aiye, Yere, Parker, Lo
Forwards: Aiton, Mexico

Anyone able to add to that?

Combine the best of these and the star Hunters and you have the makings of a decent squad. Still far too light on NRL & SL players for a country of 6 million RL nuts just north of Queensland.

There are also a number of players playing for other Intrust Super Cup Teams in Queensland.

Backs: Richard Pandia, Matt Trnka
Forwards: Willie Minoga, Ryse Martin, Tyson Martin, Sebastine Pandia

 

[mikail-eagle]

Full story below

http://www.looppng.com/content/justin-olam-accepts-offer-melbourne-storm

Justin Olam accepts offer from Melbourne Storm


Hunters winger, Justin Olam has accepted an offer from the Melbourne Storm to play for them in 2017-2018.

The news was announced today at the National Football Stadium by CEO of the PNG Rugby Football League, Bob Cutmore.

The contract with the Storms will depend on Olam passing a full medical check-up in Brisbane next week by the Storms medical staff.

Olam's contract will then be forwarded to the NRL for registration.

The humble and soft-spoken lad from Chimbu said he could not believe it when he got the news about the offer to play in the NRL.

"It has always been my dream to play in the NRL. This is a great opportunity for me and I will give my best to make the most of it.

"I want to thank the Lord firstly because without him, I am nothing.

"Thanks to the sponsors for the making the Hunters program possible, coach Michael Marum, my old club the Lae Snax Tigers and of course my family and friends.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I really appreciate it," said Olam.

Cutmore explained Olam will remain with the Hunters for the remainder of this season.

"Justin made a commitment to himself and his family that he would dedicate himself to making the NRL – a commitment that is now in sight.

"Justin's commitment and dedication has paid off and this is a wonderful opportunity for him," said Cutmore.

Olam joined the Lae Snax Tigers in 2014 and played until the 2015 season.

This is only his first season with the Hunters in the Intrust Super Cup.

He also made his debut for the PNG LNG Kumuls side that beat Fiji Bati in the recent Pacific Test.

 

[The Partisan]

Nice to see, should have a decent core of NRL players for the World Cup next year. Can't help but think the uptake of PNG talent would improve tenfold if thr Hunters could field under 16's and 18's teams to play Connell & Meninga Cups, the success rate of mature age signing to the NRL is always going to be limited.

Would also be nice to see more Super League clubs look to PNG for talent, quite a few have gone to Championship clubs. Realistically there probably wouldn't be a huge difference in playing levels between the bottom of SL and top of QLD Cup.

Yes definitely think a junior program would be of great benefit.

 

[jim_57]

Yes definitely think a junior program would be of great benefit.

Definitely, literally every player in QLD & NSW cups would be known entities to NRL clubs these days I'm sure. Juniors is now where most of the talent scouting takes place, so would be great if the Hunters could get U16 & U18's running.

Youth internationals should be a big part of building developing nations as well. How about a NZ, PNG & Fiji (or combined PI team) Under 20's tri series every year?

 

[The Partisan]

Apart from the resident PNG youth I've always believed that their must be a steady flow of PNG junior RL talent that get sent to boarding school in Oz.....and are most likely lost to RU as the school plays that code.

Possibly unable to play RL on the weekend due to rules etc ...and so lost to the game.

Would like to see more involvement of Oz / NZ Schoolboys with our northern neighbours.

Re the idea of an u/20's Tri Series for PNG/NZ/PI (or a nominated PI nation) ...are we talking Residents only ...or open to all ?

 

[jim_57]

Apart from the resident PNG youth I've always believed that their must be a steady flow of PNG junior RL talent that get sent to boarding school in Oz.....and are most likely lost to RU as the school plays that code.

Possibly unable to play RL on the weekend due to rules etc ...and so lost to the game.

Would like to see more involvement of Oz / NZ Schoolboys with our northern neighbours.

Re the idea of an u/20's Tri Series for PNG/NZ/PI (or a nominated PI nation) ...are we talking Residents only ...or open to all ?

Best of the best I figure, some sort of regular youth international program worldwide would be ideal.