Prime Minister’s XIII team working on combinations

With a great mixture of players now selected for the NGCB PNG Prime Minister’s XIII, we are working to build a good combination for the team.

NGCB PM’s XIII coach Michael Marum said: “It's a big match as we'll be up against a team that is very experienced as well as being technically good players, especially in the attacking department”.

However, the PNG team is going through the basic stuff that are the core of the game.

“We look forward to mark the Australians man to man with Justin Olam, being too good in this season to go on face to face with Australia’s Greg Inglis, and Willie Minoga, who is the only Australian-based player to make it to PNG, will face the tough Australian forwards,” coach Marum said.

“The players will put in a good performance this Saturday once we find the right combinations to face the Australians.”

Marum was trained by the opponent’s coach. However, he said: “I’m not worried at all about the situation as Australian coach Mal Meninga will be putting up a good side for his Kangaroos selection but at the end of the day, I will be in my red, black and gold jumper to supervise my team PNG”.

“The boys are looking good in training and we just have to have faith in them, nevertheless, the work done by the medical staff and the physiotherapists has been outstanding and we hope to do our best in front of the home crowd,” said Marum.

Meanwhile, the 20-man squad has been restructured because Nene McDonald and David Mead could not join them due to work and personal reasons.

Marum says their debutants have been doing well in the trials and trainings.

The squad includes; Bland Abavu, Alu Ila, Yoks Bugave, Anderson Benford, Konnie Bernard, Ase Boas, Bradley Brawa, Bernard Goma, Noel Joel, Mafu Kalas, Peter Muka Kulu, David Loko, Willie Minoga, Butler Morris, Justin Olam, Kingston Paul, Brandy Peter, Warotovo Puara Jnr, Junior Rop and  Esau Siune.

Author: 
Lamech Jinimbo