Michael Marum’s Kumuls side to line-up against Cook Islands in the Pacific Test is set to have a heavy NRL influence, with a host of elite stars to be named for Papua New Guinea.
David Mead is likely to be one of the first names on the team sheet, with the nine-times capped Brisbane Broncos winger set to line-up at fullback in order to accommodate Dragons winger Nene Macdonald and Storm speedster Justin Olam on the wings. It is expected Marum will name Hunters Stargroth Amean and try-scoring wizard Bland Abavu in the centres, while Richard Pandia and Thompson Teteh will also be in contention for a place in the backline.
The Hunters’ tried and tested halves combination of Israel Eliab and Ase Boas will make up the crux of the side, with Watson Boas also tipped to feature off the bench. Cowboys utility Ray Thompson will be Marum’s first choice out of dummy-half; however, if unavailable, Marum will certainly have a selection headache on his hands. The No. 9 jersey could be hotly contested, with Silas Gahuna, Lawrence Tu’u, Noel Joel and incumbent Wartovo Puara all having a case to make.
High-impact forward Luke Page from the Burleigh Bears should secure his place in the side alongside the experienced Rod Griffin and fellow Bulldogs back-rower Rhyse Martin. Competing for the remaining spots in the forward pack will be some of the Hunters’ big men.
Henry Wan, Esau Siune and Enoch Maki have all proved their consistency for the Kumuls so far in 2017, Maki having played on the world stage in the past. Rahdly Brawa, however, could be a bolter for a spot in the front row, competing with Ipswich Jets forward Sebastian Pandia.
Pandia will also be in contention for the back row, with Willie Minoga likely to be named, while a host of others, including Nixon Putt, Ishmael Baikawa and David Loko, will all have a case to make. Brothers Wellington and Stanton, both formerly at Penrith, have proven themselves to Marum for the Hunters in 2017; however, the last bench spot may ultimately be gifted to Moses Meninga.
The Kumuls have plenty of depth across the board, which should provide a massive boost for the end-of-year World Cup when they take on Wales, Ireland and the United States in Port Moresby.
They will head into the Pacific Test against the Cook Islands as outright favourites, although with Tony Iro likely to name a host of NRL stars, Papua New Guinea could receive a rude shock that may derail their World Cup preparation.
Papua New Guinea’s best 17
1. David Mead (Brisbane Broncos, nine caps)
2. Nene Macdonald (St George Illawarra Dragons, five caps)
3. Bland Abavu (Papua New Guinea Hunters, yet to debut)
4. Stargroth Amean (Papua New Guinea Hunters, one cap)
5. Justin Olam (Sunshine Coast Falcons, one cap)
6. Israel Eliab (Papua New Guinea Hunters, three caps)
7. Ase Boas (Papua New Guinea Hunters, two caps)
8. Luke Page (Burleigh Bears, two caps)
9. Ray Thompson (North Queensland Cowboys, four caps)
10. Henry Wan (Papua New Guinea Hunters, one cap)
11. Willie Minoga (Papua New Guinea Hunters, two caps)
12. Rhyse Martin (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, two caps)
13. Rod Griffin (Captain; Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, ten caps)
Interchange
14. Watson Boas (Papua New Guinea Hunters, one cap)
15. Esau Siune (Papua New Guinea Hunters, yet to debut)
16. Enoch Maki (Papua New Guinea Hunters, three caps)
17. Moses Meninga (Papua New Guinea Hunters, yet to debut)
Benjamin Jagara
Guest
Yep way to go Hunters the team is of course made in a professional criteria, but the selections are mostly made just from the New Guinea side, ''YEAH'' the selections haven't came up to the Papua side yet, get right done to the roots there are so many talented boys out there, but have not been able to be giving the opportunity to play for the Papua New Guinea side and of course to win, in the Papua said there boys who are 5-6 feet tall solid and weight 72-82kg 89kg to 120kg not just that but so talented too. All the best Hunters full support
Tony Sipa
Guest
I can't understand why our export to England have not been included. Specially Menzi Yere remember in 2010 when we play the Kangaroos he got a big hit on Darren Locker at the Parramatta stadium. He must be included in the world cup side.
Perth_swans
Guest
Why do people keep mentioning Alex Johnston?
chris
Guest
What about Ottio? His he injured
Mikail-Eagle
Guest
Michael Marum doesn't have a pet player and he doesn't take passengers with him. I am therefore pretty confident that Eliab will not be in the Team. If he improves he might be in the extended squad for the World Cup but there is no way he will be playing in the Pacific Test.
Rabbits
Guest
Eliab has been well below his best since returning from England. Why give him a bench spot in a test match? He has not shown much in the eight matches he's played so far for the Hunters this year. The only explanation for his inclusion would be that he's the coach's pet?
isaac
Guest
my team 1. David Mead – Captain 2. Alex Johnson 3. Nene MacDonald 4. Justin Olam 5. Adex Wera 6. Ray Thompson 7. Ase Boas 8. Luke Page 9. Wartovo Paura 10. Henry Wan 11. David Loko 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Willington albert Interchange 14. Rod Griffin 15. Stanton Albert 16. Enoch Maki 17. Moses Meninga
Billy Tea
Guest
Why not both? Daru Island is both Papua New Guinea and Torres Strait.
Rabbits
Guest
Oops, forgot that Segeyaro is out with a fracture arm. In that case insert Wartovo Puara Junior in the No.9 slot.
Rabbits
Guest
Michael Marum has gone on record saying he would pick James Segeyaro if available. Israel Eliab has done nothing this year and does not deserve to be in a Kumuls team. Alex Johnston would be a great inclusion in the side. Kato Ottio won't be considered because he is still coming back from major knee surgery (which he had late last year). Kurt Baptiste is also out injured for the Raiders. None of the England-based boys will be considered because of the logistics and cost involved with organizing the team in a short space of time (seven days). If Gideon Gela-Mosby qualifies for PNG Marum should pick him (can you imagine a backline that had Mead, Johnston, Gela-Mosby, Olam and Macdonald? - the attacking threat would be seriously high, to say the least) Anyhow here is my team for the May 6 Test against the Cook Islands: 1. David Mead (C) 2. Alex Johnston 3.Nene Macdonald 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Justin Olam 6. Ase Boas 7. Ray Thompson 8. Luke Page 9. James Segeyaro 10. Henry Wan 11. Wellington Albert 12. Rod Griffin 13. Rhyse Martin 14. Stanton Albert 15. Willie Minoga 16. Moses Meninga 17. Adex Wera
frnq
Guest
Mosbi is from the TI
Kumdi 5th
Guest
1. David Mead - Captain 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Kato Ottio 4. Justin Olam 5. Adex Wera 6. Ray Thompson 7. Ase Boas 8. Luke Page 9. Wartovo Paura 10. Henry Wan 11. Essau Suine 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Rod Griffin Interchange 14. Israel Eliab 15. Stanton Albert 16. Enoch Maki 17. Moses Meninga
theHunter
Guest
I don't think he will ever be considered to be selected in the PNG Team after he himself stated he will never represent PNG anymore. Thompson or Puara will play hooker and if Baptiste is good he will be there in the mix somewhere when it is World Cup time. If A.Johnston opts to play he maybe one of the other wingers and Mead should retain his spot as Fullback and Captain
joeboy
Guest
He 's from the Torres Strait..
jay
Guest
james segeyaro still out?
Rait Man
Guest
Stargroth and Bland have never played in the Centers before. They are full back/wingers. Don't know how you came up with this line up. Centers will be Nene Macdonald and Thompson Tete. Olam and Wera are going to be the wingers. Alex Johnston could be the marquee surprise for this test. If so, he will be the full back pushing Mead to the wing. Wera could be pushed to the bench in this instance as a utility. Or Johnston could be a center pushing Nene to a wing spot. Halves will be the Boas brothers. Rhyse Martin and Rod Griffin will be the second rowers. Eliab, Albert brothers and Stargroth are all out of form and down on confidence. Can't risk selecting them.
Gheno Minia
Roar Rookie
i like the team...just omit isreal eliab and have boas bros start at 6 and 7...they did the job last year against the batis.
PNG Broncos fan88
Roar Guru
Good one Riley. Cook Islands will get a thrashing if the boys are on.
Justin Kearney
Guest
Yeah i noticed that as well. Nuggety buggers all of them. Need a bit more size and a bit more height but great to watch.
Mikail-Eagle
Guest
I think Nene Macdonald and Justin Olam will both get picked in the centres. One of the wing spots will belong to yesterdays 4 try hero Adex Wera with maybe Ipswichs Jets Richard Pandia on the other wing. Watson Boas will be the halfback pushing big brother Ase Boas into the number 6. Isreal Eliab is not going to make the cut for the Pacific Test. Wartovo Puara will maintain his role at dummy half and Ray Thompson might get a bench spot. And than there are others like Gedion Gela Mosby, Alex Johnson etc whom I think Michael Marum has been waiting on for confirmation.