http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/76926
Players impress coach
Source:
The National, Thursday October 9th, 2014
By PETER SEVARA Jr in Kokopo
AN IMPRESSED Papua New Guinea Prime Minster XIIIs head coach Mal Meninga put his team through its paces yesterday during a morning training session at the Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
Meninga, who joined the side on Monday, said he was impressed and excited with the change in the players after his last involvement with the same fixture last year.
Im very happy with the progress and the development of the players now for the last 12 months, to this time last year, Meninga said.
I think that their heaps prepared.
A lot fitter and a lot more knowledgeable about the game. The Hunters season has been really good, and Im very confident that this time well put in a much better performance against the Australians.
Again a very, very good side a clearly impressed Meninga said.
Im excited about them (players). Theyre fairly young and Im imagining their progress over the next couple of years.
The 54-year-old Queensland Origin coach said the weekends match would provide his players a rare chance to test themselves against the best.
Meninga, who is the Team Kumul programme director, said the long term goal was the 2017 World Cup but that would start with every player picked in the PMs XIII and the other representative teams maintaining their high standards and developing as professional players.
There are opportunities to take another step and build to the next World Cup. Im hoping that they keep improving the way they are over the two or three years.
On the match against Laurie Daleys Australian side, Meninga said his men needed to play hard and not be intimidated.
I just want effort, I want our boys to stand up, be courageous, execute their skill, show the rugby league fraternity how good they are, and how far they have developed over the last 12 months under the Hunters programme, he said.
Im excited about the team. Im very pleased with their progress, as players and as people, they are heading in the right direction which is great.
Im expecting a spirited performance and the boys need to give their best, no matter whats happening in their game. Its all about attitude.
Meninga said PNGs game plan would centre on having good direction from its halves.
The Hunters pair of Roger Laka and Dion Aiye has the most important job in controlling the sets and taking the right options and kicking well.
I have already been in the PNG system for nearly two years now and I know the players and the coaching staff and everyone involved has been working really hard, Meninga said.
Michael (Marum) and his staff have worked well to improve the players in the basics like how to control ruck speed, the execution of sets, the way we really need to finish up in tackles and all those little things that you need to get right in the game. We have improved but we need to be get better. Meninga said no team was perfect or unbeatable and even the best Australian side could be tested and beaten.
Meninga maintained that the players can always do better but he said that the progress is really looking good citing the Under 19s success in the Inaugural commonwealth tournament.
Meninga said of the national junior side, the U20s, had proven with their success at the inaugural Commonwealth Nines earlier this year, that PNG had the talent to be a top ranked country. The PNG team plus the captain will be announced today.
