THE Papua New Guinea rugby league side’s two-national European tour kicked off yesterday with the welcome news that two Kumuls have been offered two-year contracts to play in Australia next year.
As the Kumuls were about to board their flight via Singapore it was announced that Michael Mark and Jessie Joe have signed up to play for NRL’s North Queensland Cowboys feeder club Northern Pride rugby league club.
Both Mark and Joe are products of this year’s SP Cup competition.
The PNG Rugby Football League said yesterday that the two players were selected for their rugby skills and outstanding performances during the SP Cup competition this year, and also for their fine showing in the Kumuls selection match at Lloyd Robson Oval on Saturday between Residents and Internationals.
It is a dream come true for a home-grown hero Michael Mark who had been a consistent player and whose effort has finally been recognised at the international scene. Mark plays with the Pagini Warriors of Chimbu province the SP Cup competition.
“The contract is a great privilege given by an overseas club, and I am thankful for the opportunity given by the Northern Pride,” Mark, who was lost for words, said yesterday. “I am prepared to play for the club next two years,” he added.
Mark was one of the six debutants named in the Telikom PNG Kumuls squad which left yesterday for the France and Wales tour.
“It is a dream come true for me in representing my country to play rugby league and with this opportunity for the France-Wales tour I will play my best,” Mark said.
Kumuls coach Adrian Lam said yesterday that the contract procedures were still being finalized before Mark and Joe link up with Northern Pride in Queensland for the next two years.
Lam said that Northern Pride have also shown interest in overseas-based Kumuls Steve Franciscus and Tu Maori as well as another local product Nixon Kolo.
He said before departure for Singapore that he had trained the Kumuls well and believed that the tour would be an overwhelming success.
“We have trained hard and have a good side after the Origin clash last Saturday. I am happy with the selected squad and I will make sure we will play our best during the tour. I also congratulate all for making the Telikom PNG Kumuls.
The Kumuls will play five matches - one in Wales and four in France which included two Tests.

Great news for all parties concerned!  Hopefully the aforementioned players will help us (Northern Pride) perform strongly in next year's "Queensland Wizard Cup" Competition.

good news for them i hope there are more to follow

Initial reaction was of joy... then a cold sweat and fear took my heart.

Whats the bet that they make the NRL team, and then get offered to play Origin and basically forced not to play for PNG. Mark my words watch it happen next year.

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Druzik:

Initial reaction was of joy... then a cold sweat and fear took my heart.

Whats the bet that they make the NRL team, and then get offered to play Origin and basically forced not to play for PNG. Mark my words watch it happen next year.

steady on dan they might not even make 1st grade yet!! 

I hope I am proved wrong... What you say is true, but I do hope they make it, and I do hope they play for the Kumuls. So two guys to watch out for on Sunday hey Marv.

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Druzik:

I hope I am proved wrong... What you say is true, but I do hope they make it, and I do hope they play for the Kumuls. So two guys to watch out for on Sunday hey Marv.

absolutely i cant wait! 

love the Avatar, so I guess your not the wigan fan are you trieztmarv.

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Was just on Wikipedia looking at the french squad, a players I noticed. Clovis Carrive-Meyer who plays for the Bunnies. You know anything about this guy?

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Druzik:

Was just on Wikipedia looking at the french squad, a players I noticed. Clovis Carrive-Meyer who plays for the Bunnies. You know anything about this guy?

 

cant say as iv ever heard of him mate, or seen him in any france squads 

Druzik:

love the Avatar, so I guess your not the wigan fan are you trieztmarv.

 

certainly am not Dan, its the perfect avatar for me, reminds me of the greatest win in Catalans short history
 

Druzik:

Initial reaction was of joy... then a cold sweat and fear took my heart.

Whats the bet that they make the NRL team, and then get offered to play Origin and basically forced not to play for PNG. Mark my words watch it happen next year.

I doubt it very much, maybe in a couple of years but not next year. In the next couple of years they should pledge their life allegance to PNG.

What positions do these 2 play? i heard somewhere Joe plays halfs, so he'll be flat out making the cowboys with JT and Travis Burns there next season, let alone QLD with JT, Lockyer and even Cronk, Smith, Prince etc. They would have to have a great next couple of years to force their way into the QLD side. I Dont know anything about M Mark or what position he plays, if he is a forward he may have a chance, but unlikely.

This is precisely the reason why PNG and for that matter all smaller nations should have frequent and strong international competition, so their players have regular rep football without having to enter the AUS or NZ system to play rep footy.

jim_57:

This is precisely the reason why PNG and for that matter all smaller nations should have frequent and strong international competition, so their players have regular rep football without having to enter the AUS or NZ system to play rep footy.

 

good shout jim 

quote:

Druzik:

Was just on Wikipedia looking at the french squad, a players I noticed. Clovis Carrive-Meyer who plays for the Bunnies. You know anything about this guy?

 

 

cant say as iv ever heard of him mate, or seen him in any france squads

unquote:

He is a new player, a future immortal and has won the anastashia athiel player of the year award in the national french league. He was playing reserve grade for Souths but he only played 1 game in 2006 because he tore the ligaments in his knee. He has since moved back to France and is on the verge of making his debut for Les Catalans. He has also scored 104 tries in his career which has gone on for 4 years (1 year with Souths reserve grade and 3 years with his local French Club).

 

hey hows it going r u looking 4 players under 17 cause i would like to play 4 a rep team im preety good and i play fullback,wing and i would try out if uses have any spaces left