PNGRFL chief executive officer Jeff Wade yesterday announced the two squads will take part in PNGs version of State of Origin between PNG Residents (Reds) and the PNG International (Yellow) on Oct 20 at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.
The Origin clash is to select the best players for the Kumuls tour of France and Wales this year and also a train-on squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
Wade said certainly there will be no love lost when these two team meet.
The PNG Residents (Reds): Menzie Yere (Gurias), Michael Mark (Warriors), Gimapau Kemelo (Raiders), Francis Ray (Eagles), Eki Ene (Bombers), Jersey Joe (Bulldogs), Benjamin John (Bulldogs), Nigel Hukula (Lahanis), Charlie Wabo (Muruks), Rodney Pora (Gurias), George Moni (Muruks), Joseph Omae (Muruks), Johnson Kuike (Bulldogs), Nicko Slain (Lahanis), Porian Bal (Warriors), Nixon Kolo (Raiders), Larson Marabe (Bulldogs), Dustin Mockley (Bombers). Coach Michcel Marum
And the PNG International (Yellows) is as follows Daniel Tanswell(Bris), Tu Maori (Cronulla), Steve Franciscuss(Bris), George Keppa (Bris), David Moore (Bris), John Wilshire (Eng), Keith Peters (Penrith), Makali Aizu (Eng), Paul Aiton (Penrith), Trevor Exton (Bris), Jamie Nightingale (Penrith), Alex McFarlene (Cairns) Rod Griffin (West Tigers), Merv Ofinagan (Bris), Kevin Prior (Sydney) Tony Butterfield (Bris), Stanley Gene (Eng). Coach Brendan Lam.
Wade said Telikom PNG will be the major sponsors of the event and have all the naming rights so the clash would be named as Telikom "PNG Origin" event.
Following the match, PNG selectors will name a side for the France and Wales tour
National coach Adrian Lam said players for both teams will go into camp on Oct 15 and stay with their respective teams till the game is played on October 20. The squad will be named after the game where media will have chance to ask question on the selection of players before the PNG Kumuls team move into camp at the Weigh Inn before their departure on Monday afternoon.
Lam said it was and has been his dream for a long time to create concept of this standard where all the PNG players in the world come together
As a coach you want the best players playing for your Country so this game provides an avenue for this to happen and gives all players in PNG and around the World playing at the top of their game, an opportunity to play the best of the rest and the chance of representing their Country and the "PNG Kumuls" he said.
Lame said it is from there PNGRFL and selectors will monitor individual players and performances easier.
The tickets for this match will be out at all Telikom outlets in Port Moresby. Only Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning will tickets be on sale so dont miss out. The outer stands are going for K20 while the grand stand is K100. PNGRFL need money as it will host the overseas and the local players in Port Moresby. There are only 10,000 tickets and once they are sold, that is it.
