coach Michael Marum

We need more players from NRL, states Marum

Marum made these comments after PNG were given a taste of NRL level rugby league last weekend with a 58-0 hiding.

“Our boys play in the Intrust Super Cup, it’s a good level but again, we really need to have our boys playing at the NRL level.

“With the experience playing week in and week out, they can come down here to lead PNG.”

Marum added while there are some PNG players playing in Australia and England, those players also needed to work hard to make sure they are playing top level rugby league to match up with other countries.

Prime Minister’s XIII team working on combinations

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.

Kumuls selection still open to domestic competition

Kumuls coach Michael Marum says there’s no guarantee that the players that challenged Fiji in the recent Pacific Test have a place in the Kumuls.

Marum said they will have to compete against everyone else including players in the Digicel Cup, Queensland Intrust Super Cup, NRL and the Super League that is played in England.

He said all these players are performing well and will be considered as selectors will have to pick the best players.

“There’s no automatic selection for players that played against Fiji.