PNG Team vs Fiji

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.nrl.com/fiji-v-papua-new-guinea-preview/tabid/10874/newsid/95576/default.aspx


Fiji v Papua New Guinea preview


Fiji v Papua New Guinea
Pirtek Stadium
Saturday, 5.35pm

When Papua New Guinea went through the group stage of the 2000 World Cup undefeated (including wins over France and Tonga), it appeared rugby league's most passionate nation was on the verge of international significance.

Since then they have failed to win a game in the past two World Cups and have lost their past seven Test matches but as they prepare to host World Cup matches for the first time in PNG in 2017 there is hope on the horizon.

The introduction of the PNG Hunters to Queensland's Intrust Super Cup has exposed a greater number of players to regular competition at a high level and showcased them to NRL and Super League clubs who have come calling.

Now contracted to the Canberra Raiders, Kato Ottio is believed to be close to an NRL start after some strong displays in the Intrust Super NSW Premiership and Rod Griffin has graduated from the Ipswich Jets to a full-time contract with the Wests Tigers.

The return of David Mead to the Kumuls colours gives the team a major boost with Nene Macdonald, Luke Page and Kurt Baptiste also boast NRL experience.

Semi-finalists at the 2013 World Cup, Fiji go into this game without Korbin Sims and Jayson Bukuya due to suspension and Marika Koroibete, Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau due to injury and will rely heavily on the experience of Kevin Naiqama, Akuila Uate and Sisa Waqa out wide and young forwards Kane Evans, Daniel Saifiti and Eloni Vunakece.

Both teams are guaranteed passage into next year's World Cup but with few opportunities to play Test matches need to start building now.

Fiji are currently ranked seventh in the world and the Kumuls 14th (behind Serbia, Italy and Canada) but this represents a chance for PNG to show there is now little between them.

Watch out Bati: The threat posed by David Mead at fullback is obvious to anyone who has watched the Titans play this season but one player who Fiji need to be particularly wary of is crafty hooker Wartovo Puara. A member of the PNG Hunters team that qualified for the Intrust Super Cup semi-finals in their second season last year, Puara is small in stature but big in footy smarts and is capable of causing havoc around the ruck with his speed off the mark. If the big Fiji forwards start to slow up, he's the man that can take advantage.

Watch out Kumuls: It's been three years since Sisa Waqa last represented Fiji at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and with his move to French rugby now less than two months away he'll be keen to go out with a bang. An enigmatic player with 95 NRL games to his name, Waqa has been forced to bide his time in NSW Cup with the Raiders this season but will no doubt have something special planned in what will likely be his final game for the Bati. He's never scored a try in four Tests with Fiji; I'm tipping that to change on Saturday night.

Key match-up: Kane Evans v Luke Page. The loss of Korbin Sims through suspension puts further pressure on Roosters prop Kane Evans to lead the way up front and while he will tower over the PNG pack he faces a willing combatant in Luke Page. Having spent time with both Canberra and St George Illawarra in the past two seasons, Page is a ferocious runner of the footy who will push off the back fence at Pirtek Stadium before charging into the Fijian defence. When these two big boppers collide it will rock the foundations and inspire their teammates around them.

History: Last year's Pacific Test represented the first meeting between these two island nations with Fiji running out 22-10 victors over a Papua New Guinea team boasting only two players with NRL experience at the time. While Fiji have steadily climbed the international rugby league ranks the Kumuls have gone the other way, losing all seven of their most recent Test matches.

The way we see it: The key outs of Sims and Bukuya level up the NRL experience within the two sides considerably and bring PNG right into the contest. More Kumuls players than ever before are training and playing at a high level and with David Mead at fullback have a class player in a key position. Fiji's greatest advantage comes up front where they have a host of towering props who will challenge the PNG defence but the Kumuls are used to playing well above their weight. The combination of brothers Ase and Watson Boas in the halves might just be enough for PNG to cause the upset. Kumuls by six points.

 

[Chip Kick]

It's great to see Rod Griffin back for the Kumuls

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...06a765313ef5524fbec580501#load-story-comments

How PNG legend Marcus Bai got David Mead back into a Kumuls jersey


IT took a phone call from a Papua New Guinea legend for David Mead to rediscover his love for the Kumuls.

Mead will captain his country for the first time in Saturday’s Test against Fiji at Parramatta.

Mead rates it as one of the proudest achievements of his career but until a few weeks ago the Titans flyer thought he might never wear a Kumuls jersey again.

Mead has always been proud of his origins but fell out of love with the game in his homeland after the 2013 World Cup.

Rugby league is PNG’s national sport but political infighting has stunted its growth.

Mead played for NSW Country in 2014-15 in pursuit of a Blues Origin jumper until a call from Marcus Bai brought him back to the Kumuls.

““I felt the boys weren’t being looked after really well,’’ Mead said. “Marcus rang me four weeks ago. He said they’d love to have me back.

“He explained all the changes and who was coming into the camp. He would have supported whatever decision I made.

“I always loved being around these guys, which helped my decision.

“Now we’ve got Marcus Bai and some other Kumuls players here looking after the team and making sure the boys are all good.

“It’s something that certainly influenced my decision to come back.’’

Mead had no idea coach Michael Marum was planning to make him captain when he decided to return, but he will lead the Kumuls on to Pirtek Stadium in his ninth Test.

“We had a team photo on Monday night and the coach pulled me aside and said ‘I’m going to name you captain’,” Mead said.

“We had a chat after the photo about it. He said ‘I’ve been here a long time and know what I’m doing’.

“I was honoured to get that. It means a lot. It’s a big achievement playing for PNG and to be named captain is huge honour.

“To represent my family at that level and captain the side is something I never even dreamed of doing.’’

Mead’s mother Helen Rage sent him to Lismore when he was 12 to live with her sister Kila and that was where he was discovered by the Titans.

He was David Moore when he arrived in Australia but opted to change his name in honour of Kila’s late husband Stephen Mead, the man he credits with raising him.

It will be a proud moment for Mead’s many relatives in Port Moresby and Australia when he captains the Kumuls and that’s what matters most for the 27-year-old.

“Whatever jersey I put on, I‘m always representing my family,” he said.

“Rugby league means everything to the people of PNG.

“I’ve found the love I had when I first started playing the game. That’s come back.”

 

[latingringo101]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...06a765313ef5524fbec580501#load-story-comments

How PNG legend Marcus Bai got David Mead back into a Kumuls jersey


IT took a phone call from a Papua New Guinea legend for David Mead to rediscover his love for the Kumuls.

Mead will captain his country for the first time in Saturday?s Test against Fiji at Parramatta.

Mead rates it as one of the proudest achievements of his career but until a few weeks ago the Titans flyer thought he might never wear a Kumuls jersey again.

Mead has always been proud of his origins but fell out of love with the game in his homeland after the 2013 World Cup.

Rugby league is PNG?s national sport but political infighting has stunted its growth.

Mead played for NSW Country in 2014-15 in pursuit of a Blues Origin jumper until a call from Marcus Bai brought him back to the Kumuls.

??I felt the boys weren?t being looked after really well,?? Mead said. ?Marcus rang me four weeks ago. He said they?d love to have me back.

?He explained all the changes and who was coming into the camp. He would have supported whatever decision I made.

?I always loved being around these guys, which helped my decision.

?Now we?ve got Marcus Bai and some other Kumuls players here looking after the team and making sure the boys are all good.

?It?s something that certainly influenced my decision to come back.??

Mead had no idea coach Michael Marum was planning to make him captain when he decided to return, but he will lead the Kumuls on to Pirtek Stadium in his ninth Test.

?We had a team photo on Monday night and the coach pulled me aside and said ?I?m going to name you captain?,? Mead said.

?We had a chat after the photo about it. He said ?I?ve been here a long time and know what I?m doing?.

?I was honoured to get that. It means a lot. It?s a big achievement playing for PNG and to be named captain is huge honour.

?To represent my family at that level and captain the side is something I never even dreamed of doing.??

Mead?s mother Helen Rage sent him to Lismore when he was 12 to live with her sister Kila and that was where he was discovered by the Titans.

He was David Moore when he arrived in Australia but opted to change his name in honour of Kila?s late husband Stephen Mead, the man he credits with raising him.

It will be a proud moment for Mead?s many relatives in Port Moresby and Australia when he captains the Kumuls and that?s what matters most for the 27-year-old.

?Whatever jersey I put on, I?m always representing my family,? he said.

?Rugby league means everything to the people of PNG.

?I?ve found the love I had when I first started playing the game. That?s come back.?

Seems like a convincing bloke, well done Mal!

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.nrl.com/hunter-stargroth...reality/tabid/10874/newsid/95599/default.aspx

Hunter Stargroth's life dream becomes reality

Thu 05 May, 2016, 12:20pm
By Chris Kennedy *, National Correspondent , NRL.com


"My mind told me to run but my feet couldn't do it. I was really isolated. It was like being paralysed. I couldn't run. I couldn't even walk."

PNG Kumuls winger Stargroth Amean is about to achieve a life dream, one he once thought may never happen due to serious injuries.

A product of rugby league-mad nation Papua New Guinea – the only country on earth to call rugby league its national sport – Amean has held two lifelong goals. One is to become a doctor. The other is to represent his country in rugby league.

This Saturday, one of those dreams comes true, and you'd be a fool to think the University of Papua New Guinea science student won't make the other a reality.

Despite being arguably the most excellently-named man ever to lace on a boot, Amean is many other things.

He is a triumph of determination; a heart-warming example of persistence and hard work paying off; he is a science student and future medical student. He has shaken off serious injuries that threatened his playing career.

He is also named after an obscure Spanish actor, in case you were wondering.

Speaking to NRL.com days before his long-awaited and much-desired Test debut, the 25-year-old fullback or winger spoke frankly of the injuries that put him out of the game for a year and took an emotional toll, as well as of his pride in having achieved one of his life's goals.

"I've been chasing this jersey for five years now, to play for PNG," Amean said, standing on the Pirtek Stadium turf for the captains' and coaches' call ahead of this weekend's Pacific double header at the venue.

"It's an honour to represent my family and my countrymen back in PNG. It's a big privilege for me. They really love it there, it's the national sport in PNG so to represent my country is a big deal."

Amean – who played for the PNG Hunters in Queensland's Intrust Super Cup last season – said Hunters players are recognised in their homeland the same way NRL stars are here, with the kids who follow the game knowing all the players by name.

"We're well known back in PNG, all the boys, all the kids growing up, they know all the boys. Individually, the names and everything, just like the NRL boys here, back in PNG is the same with Hunters," he said.

He spoke of his struggle to come back from two serious ankle injuries through several changes of scenery over the past five years.

"I'd been playing for the local comp back in PNG, the Digicel Cup. I made my debut with Hela Wigmen and then in 2012 I went to join the Port Moresby Vipers and then I dislocated both my ankles."

And that puts a hell of a full stop on a rugby league career. Those injuries happened a season apart and would present a huge hurdle for any young man to return from.

"I dislocated my right ankle in 2011 so when I was running in 2012 I was putting all the weight on my left leg. Then when I dislocated my left ankle I couldn't use both my legs, so I stayed out of the game in 2013 and concentrated on my recovery," he said.

"In 2013 I was out. I couldn't run, or even walk a long distance."

It was a challenging time and Amean said he turned to his faith for help in healing both physically and mentally.

"I went to see the physios but they couldn't help me out; I couldn't walk. So I went to this pastor who prayed for me and it got better.

"In 2014 and I came back and played for the Vipers and then in 2015 I made my debut for the Hunters. Then this year, I came back, played for the Hunters and now I'm here with the Kumuls."

Amean admits it was "a really tough time emotionally".

"Watching small kids play touch rugby, I really envied them, seeing them running around. My mind told me to run but my feet couldn't do it. I was really isolated. It was like being paralysed. I couldn't run. I couldn't even walk."

One small advantage of such a tough period was being able to focus more on his studies, which have taken a back seat over the past two seasons as his footy career has been resurrected.

"Last year and this year with the Hunters I haven't concentrated on school a lot, I've concentrated on the game so I'm thinking of going back next year for the following year to complete my schooling. I'm thinking of picking up medicine. I've got one year in science before I stream to medicine," he said.

"Growing up, I had a couple of goals in life and this is one of them – representing my country. The other one is doing medicine. Now I'm achieving one of them I look forward to the next one.

"I want to achieve everything that I can in this lifetime."

And we couldn't finish up without asking him how he came to have such a memorable name.

"Stargroth?" he laughed.

"When my mum was young, during her teenage years she used to admire a Spanish actor whose name was Stargroth. She said when she has her first born baby boy she would call him Stargroth so that's how I got it."

NRL.com has scoured the internet with little success for evidence of this actor but it's probably fitting that the man simply called "Star" by his teammates is the only Stargroth anyone in this neck of the woods has ever heard of. You'll be hearing a bit more of him no doubt.