Pacific Test

Mead, who is currently in Port Moresby told Loop PNG said he was obviously disappointed to be missing out on playing this weekend.

“I have a rib cartilage injury and I’ve been playing with it since the Roosters game. I’ve been getting a needle every game and it’s pretty painful the next morning when I wake up and during the week at training. It’s affecting my training.

“I spoke to Wayne and he told me to make sure to get my body right, have the weekend off to rest up well and come ready to train next week.

The 18 man squad was revealed by Chairman of the PNG Rugby Football League, Sandis Tsaka at a press conference at the National Football Stadium.

Tsaka said the Kumuls will be without captain and Brisbane Broncos player, David Mead who is carrying a rib injury and will be out of action for the next two-three weeks.

“The team was put together by the selectors chaired by the coach himself. It’s the best team available.

“The selectors picked the team in anticipation of injuries and suspensions,” said Tsaka.

The Bulldogs have been subjected to heavy criticism for announcing their players would not be available for the May 7 City-Country match at Mudgee but that is due to scheduling as they play North Queensland just four days later.

If NSW coach Laurie Daley had advised that he wanted any specific Canterbury players to play City-Country with a view to assessing them for State of Origin selection, the Bulldogs would have allowed them to do so.

Cronulla Sharks veteran Chris Heighington will make his return to the squad after last being selected for England in 2011, while Zak Hardaker has also been recalled and Chris McQueen, Mike McMeeken and Alex Walmsley have been handed debuts. Gold Coast Titan McQueen qualifies for England selection through his English father.

A 90-metre intercept try to Bulldogs and Bati winger Tyrone Phillips – the only scoring play of the second half – handed Fiji an unlikely lead they desperately clung onto until the final siren when the celebrations erupted.

In what was the first ever official Test match in Samoa, it looked like the home fans would be enjoying a runaway win as big Sam Kasiano inspired his country to an 18-0 lead after almost as many minutes.

Chairman of the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL), Sandis Tsaka said EMTV were given the exclusive rights to televise the Pacific Test Rugby League match by the Australian NRL.

“I am happy to announce that Papua New Guineans will be able to watch their beloved PNG LNG Kumuls take on Fiji Batis on their television screens on EMTV,” said Tsaka.

He added that FM 100 will also relay a live radio broadcast if people do not have access to a television set.

UPNG students still continue boycotting of classes

http://www.looppng.com/content/upng-students-still-continue-boycotting-classes

Though doors to lecture rooms at the University of Papua New Guinea have been opened, students are still refusing to attend classes.

Police will not allow student protest, says Andrews

Coach Michael Marum said from Sydney this afternoon Lomai got the nod ahead of Edward Goma, who is the 18th man.

Goma replaced Townsville Blackhawks backrower Rhyse Martin who withdrew earlier this week due to personal reasons.

“Timothy Lomai will partner Rodney Griffin in the second row in an otherwise unchanged line up announced last week,” Marum said.

He said there were concerns with Adex Wera (calf) and Ase Boas (hamstring) but the injuries are improving as the days go by.

His appointment was officially made known in a press conference this afternoon at the Holiday Inn, Port Moresby.

Marum made his debut for the Kumuls against France in the first game of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) in Paris. He is the 197^th Kumul.

After his retirement, Marum took up a coaching role with the Agmark Gurias then on to the international stage that included playing assistant to Adrian Lam in the 2008 RLWC and recently assisted former Kumuls coach, Mal Meninga at last year’s Pacific Test.