Team PNG rugby 9s final 15-man team has been named for the Pacific Games which is eight days away.
The team will be coached by Michael Marum with strength and conditioning coach Jason Tassell to be the trainer while Solomon Kuluniasi is the team manager.
The team was announced by PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka in a statement today.
The team is dominated by SP Hunters players. Two players Silas Gahuna and Rex Yellon are not members of the Hunters but have proven themselves in the 9s format.
Gahuna and Yellon were members of the Commonwealth Games team that won gold in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014 and the Cabramatta Nines in Sydney early this year.
Gahuna plays for Digicel Cup team Gulf Isapea while Yellon plays for the Enga Mioks.
Pacific Games rugby league 9s sports competition manager Toksy Nema said PNG will be among the six countries participating in the Rugby League 9s competition.
They’re Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Solomon Islands.
Tsaka said they believe the selectors in consultation with coach Marum have named a team that will make PNG proud at the games.
Tsaka said the team is suited to the 9s format and comprises speed, strength, versatility and the mental toughness that has been experienced through a high intensity competition like the Intrust Super Cup.
The team in alphabetical order is: 1.Stargroth Amean, 2. Ase Boas, 3. Nickson Borana, 4. Israel Eliab, 5. David Lapua, 6.Willie Minoga, 7. Kato Ottio, 8. Wartovo Puara, 9. Gahuna Silas, 10. Thompson Teteh, 11.Oti Bland Tony, 12.Lawrence Tu’u, 13. Adex Wera, 14. Rex Yellon, 15. Noel Zeming.
The rugby league 9s competition is from July 11-12 at the Sir John Guise Outdoor Stadium.