PNG Boys sponsored to play in Aust

[mikail-eagle]

This started last year and has gone under the radar a little bit but I think it will only get bigger.

https://mobile.facebook.com/LHI-Sports-Development-Program-2334780716765792/

Last year the PNG Subsidiary of Lion Heart Trust Australia began a program focused on developing PNG Talent and providing a pathway into the international arena where possible.

Last year they sponsored 3 players to spend the year with the Redcliffe Dolphins U18's.
This year under the said program, the same 3 players namely Troy Taumu, Paranas Bokiuk and Jediddiah Simbiken have all moved down to Sydney to the Penrith Panthers and will spend the year with feeder club St Mary's in the RM Cup.

In Sydney they have been joined by last years PNG Hunters Winger Brendon Gotuno who has also been brought down under the same program and will be with the Panthers NSW Cup side.

And early as next week they could be joined by another player in 16 year old Edward Yukil, Edward was man of the Match in the U16 Kumuls win over NSW U16s in last years PMXIII curtain raiser. He is also set to play for St Mary's and also the Panthers Jersey Flegg side.

From what I know the program is at the moment working only with the Redcliffe Dolphins in QLD and the Penrith Panthers in NSW. Hopefully this can grow and other Teams can open their doors to these kids.

And until the PNG Hunters can get Teams into the QLD U16 and U18 Competitions this is probably the only other way to get PNG kids into the NRL Systems earlier.

 

[mikail-eagle]

A couple of pictures of the boys.

1. Troy Taumu, Brendon Gotuno and Paranas Bokiuk at the Panthers HQ.

 

[mikail-eagle]

2. 16 year old Edward Yukil who will be joining next week.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Great stuff!!!

Credit to whoever organised it. I hope continues, expands and shows dividends...

 

[Walter sobchak]

Excellent news. The untapped talent is there in huge numbers but just needs the correct structure and pathways put in place to see results.

Hunters u20’s, u18’s and u16’s teams competing against Queensland sides must be a top priority.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

PNG could be a huge RL nation in 10 years time if this, the Hunters, the increased scheduling of Kumuls matches and the proposed funding / assistance from the Australian Government continues. We seem to be finally developing the only nation on earth with RL as the national sport. And more than any other Pacific nation, once they can compete with the big 3 consistently, it will be sustainable because they would have done it with players that are all eligible for PNG and PNG only.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Just an update;

16 year old Edward Yukil arrived in Sydney on Saturday.
He is going to spend the year with the St Mary's U19's squad.

All other updates are on the Sponsors Facebook page as posted in the OP.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Just an update;

16 year old Edward Yukil arrived in Sydney on Saturday.
He is going to spend the year with the St Mary's U19's squad.

All other updates are on the Sponsors Facebook page as posted in the OP.

What positions do all of these guys play ME?

 

[mikail-eagle]

What positions do all of these guys play ME?

Brendon Gotuno is a winger, Paranas Bokiuk and Jediddiah Simbiken are outside backs can play fullback, wing and centre.

Troy Taumu is a Prop and young Edward Yukil plays 2ndrow/Lock.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Brendon Gotuno is a winger, Paranas Bokiuk and Jediddiah Simbiken are outside backs can play fullback, wing and centre.

Troy Taumu is a Prop and young Edward Yukil plays 2ndrow/Lock.

Good stuff ME. Thanks.

All very exciting for the development of RL in PNG. You think this is just the start ME??

 

[mikail-eagle]

Good stuff ME. Thanks.

All very exciting for the development of RL in PNG. You think this is just the start ME??

I think it is a good start. And hopefully with the National Schools Competition getting bigger this year the numbers will start to increase.
It is a good way of over coming the VISA issues and NRL Clubs don't have to spend money on the boys in the first couple of years.
And the sponsors need to be commended for their foresight. I have no idea where or how they get their money from but they are making a big difference.

 

[Walter sobchak]

I think it is a good start. And hopefully with the National Schools Competition getting bigger this year the numbers will start to increase.
It is a good way of over coming the VISA issues and NRL Clubs don't have to spend money on the boys in the first couple of years.
And the sponsors need to be commended for their foresight. I have no idea where or how they get their money from but they are making a big difference.

Do the PNG schoolboys tour Australia much or maybe even just Queensland at say u16 level?

 

[mikail-eagle]

Do the PNG schoolboys tour Australia much or maybe even just Queensland at say u16 level?

I think the last school boys tour out of PNG was in 2013. It was an U16's and U18's tour.
The tour squad included current Kumul Wellignton Albert.

See thread below from 2013.
https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/png-school-boys-qld-tour.422304/

 

[mikail-eagle]

Do the PNG schoolboys tour Australia much or maybe even just Queensland at say u16 level?

And while there hasn't been any tours from PNG itself "The Queensland PNG Rugby League" have been doing a great job in developing QLD based PNG Heritage players through the PNG Kokomos.

It was this PNG Kokomos Team that took part in the recent Cabramatta nines and also last years version.

Link below is their website
http://www.qldpngrugbyleague.com/

And two of the boys above in Paranas Bokiuk and Jediddiah Simbiken actually first came through the QLD PNG program as both boys family's now reside in Brisbane.

And in recent years Kumuls players such as Luke Page, Daniel Russell, Tommy Butterfield, Luke Baptiste, Richard Pandia, Rod Griffin, Trevor Exton etc all had some involvement with QLDPNG Kokomos before getting Kumuls Selection.

 

[Perth Red]

I’d love to see the nrlwa link up with png and bring 3 or 4 under 18’s into the Pirates sg ball set up each year. They could learn a trade at tafe whilst in Perth in case they dont make it.

We struggle as we dont have a lot of players in that age group and could do with a bit of a bolster so we dont get whacked very week and eventually Pirates in nrl could become a pathway for hunters players

 

[mikail-eagle]

I’d love to see the nrlwa link up with png and bring 3 or 4 under 18’s into the Pirates sg ball set up each year. They could learn a trade at tafe whilst in Perth in case they dont make it.

We struggle as we dont have a lot of players in that age group and could do with a bit of a bolster so we dont get whacked very week and eventually Pirates in nrl could become a pathway for hunters players

That's a great idea. Maybe something could be worked out.
Has anyone from NRLWA ever tried to make contact with PNG ?

I could probably try to find contacts for you in PNG if you are serious.

 

[Perth Red]

That's a great idea. Maybe something could be worked out.
Has anyone from NRLWA ever tried to make contact with PNG ?

I could probably try to find contacts for you in PNG if you are serious.

NRLWA is run on whiff of an oily rag, they have enough with the limited resources they've got trying to develop the game here.

It needs the NRL to commit to NRL expansion in Perth then seriously fund in the next 4 years the SG Ball and NSW cup set ups so they can get ready for 2023 admission, that could include an initiative such as this. At the moment there is no incentive, funding or reason for NRLWA to develop the game in PNG.