It is the time of year that makes every Papua New Guinean believe. Despite the poor infrastructure, financial debts and violence, The Kumals will fly to Australia to represent a nation that perhaps lives and breathes rugby league more than any other country.
Adrian Lam regards himself as more of a Queenslander than anything else.
Deep down though, his heart and soul will guide a Papua New Guinea team that has the potential to cause a big stir come World Cup time.
Surely all those matches against the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII amount to something.
Despite it being a perceived second string squad of NRL players, Papua New Guinea have nevertheless, pitted their talents against the best league side in the world in recent seasons.
And the results have been far from disappointing.
If anything, it is a nation going forward in international league.
In their most recent game against the Prime Minister’s XIII, The Kumals scored thirty points against an Australian opponent that had most of its players playing in the toughest code on the planet.
The Kumals at times played some breathtaking football against high calibre players, among them Nathan Hindmarsh, Michael Jennings, Scott Prince and Terry Campese.
Although their defence needs a lot of fine-tuning, there is no doubt Adrian Lam has a team with unparalleled potential at his disposal.
This is a side that is blessed with speed and attitude. Just imagine them on a dry track on the surfaces of Suncorp Stadium.
Like most amateur league nations, however, New Guinea often rely on the momentum for victory in matches. Although it will be paramount for all sides in this year’s World Cup to start well, the Kumals will want to race out of the blocks.
It is then that they play their best football. And only then will they start believing in the impossible.
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