Keith Jackson & Friends: PNG ATTITUDE

Belden Namah could be Gold Coast Titans saviour

BY PETER BADEL
THE SUNDAY MAIL (Queensland)

BELDEN NAMAH, PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S CONTROVERSIAL deputy prime minister, has emerged as a possible white knight in Gold Coast boss Michael Searle's last-ditch plan to save the financially-stricken Titans rugby league team.

The development comes as Searle broke a two-month silence on the club's fiscal crisis yesterday, apologising to fans and revealing his and the Titans' future may hinge on securing fresh funds from a mystery backer.

Insolvency firm KordaMentha issued a creditors' report on the Titans' property arm on Friday, revealing the company, of which Searle is sole director, has operated at a loss since 2008 with debts as high as $26 million.

The report also questions whether the company traded while insolvent, an assessment Searle vehemently rejected yesterday.

Searle would not disclose the identity of any backers, but The Sunday Mail understands leading PNG political powerbroker Namah has been approached to personally fund a Titans rescue package.

The NRL has been notified of the development. Namah is one of PNG's richest individuals, having outlaid K30 million ($14.3 million) in his campaign to unseat Peter O'Neill as his country's prime minister in upcoming elections.

According to well-placed sources, Namah is considering an initial $2 million investment and could provide as much as $10 million to purchase a stake in the Titans.

Namah caused a political stir when he was ejected from Sydney's Star City Casino on April 16 last year after being accused of sexually harassing a male blackjack dealer in the high-rollers room.

Namah has vigorously denied any wrongdoing, with his lawyer Greg Sheppard saying the reports were "mistaken".

Football: Farina’s PNG aiming to defy the odds

FIFA.COM

PAPUA NEW GUINEA MAY BE Oceania’s largest and most populace nation, but they face a massive challenge if they are to make an impression in Oceania’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.

The national team hase played just three matches since 2007, although their return to the international stage under Frank Farina suggests brighter times ahead.

The second stage of Oceania qualifiers for Brazil 2014, which commence on 1 June, could prove to be a case of too much too soon for PNG. Farina’s squad has a youthful look, and even the older crop suffer from a relative lack of significant experience at club and national team level.

A tough draw dealt to the Kapuls merely adds to what is already a momentous task. PNG will enter Group B alongside regional kings New Zealand, tournament hosts Solomon Islands, and perennial Pacific contenders Fiji. 

The other group features French-speaking trio New Caledonia, Tahiti and Vanuatu, plus Round 1 qualifiers Samoa, with the four semi-finalists advancing to the third and final stage of continental qualifying. On offer to the victor of the eight-nation Round 2, which doubles as the OFC Nations Cup, will be a berth at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Football in Papua New Guinea is finally building some momentum after years of relative inactivity at international level. Leading the charge have been Port Moresby club Hekari United, who completed a stunning rise by being crowned 2010 OFC O-League champions, before competing in the FIFA Club World Cup later that same year.

The nation’s football authorities, with further international growth in mind, last year showed their intentions with the appointment of former Australia coach Frank Farina to the national team post.

Farina’s success and extensive experience with the Socceroos aside, the appointment was, in many ways, an inspired choice, with the former Club Brugge, Bari and Lille striker having spent ten years during his childhood living in the country's capital, Port Moresby.

PNG lose to NZ in soccer Olympic qualifier

NEW ZEALAND HERALD

THE NEW ZEALAND Football Ferns took a major step towards Olympic qualification with a resounding 8-0 win over Papua New Guinea in the first leg of their OFC Women's Olympic Qualifier final in Whangarei on Saturday.

New Zealand scored four goals in each half and were never threatened by PNG who set out to keep the Football Ferns at bay and take the tie back to Port Moresby on Wednesday.

But from the sixth minute, when the Whangarei-raised pair of Abby Erceg and Hannah Wilkinson combined to open the scoring in front of a 2,243 strong crowd at Toll Stadium, the home side never let up.

"There's definitely things we need to work on from the game but it's pretty hard to fault them," said New Zealand coach Tony Readings after the match.

The Football Ferns fly to Port Moresby tomorrow for the return match.

Barramundis out to play big-name opponents

RADIO NEW ZEALAND

AFTER A CHALLENGING FORTNIGHT IN DUBAI, Cricket Papua New Guinea is on the lookout for more regular top-level matches to try and take the team to the next level.

The Barramundi’s finished a very creditable eighth in the 16 team Twenty20 qualifying tournament, from which Afghanistan and Ireland earned a spot at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka later this year.

Cricket PNG’s General Manager Greg Campbell says the Barramundi’s players had high expectations in Dubai and returned home somewhat disappointed.

“Every game we were in went down to either the last ball,” Mr Campbell said. “The Netherlands game might have got away from us a little bit but even the Afghanistan the first up they got them in the 19th over and chasing Canada, 167, we fell about five or six runs short.

“Every game the boys were right up to their necks in it and it just goes to show that cricket awareness is what Cricket PNG need - we’ve got the ability we just need more games around the world.”

Greg Campbell says they’ve already had some positive feedback with Bangladesh indicating they’re keen to play against PNG when they’re in Australia later this year.

PNG goes cold on investment in Titans

BY PETER BADEL & CHRIS GARRY
THE COURIER-MAIL (Brisbane)

THE CASH-STRAPPED TITANS ARE ON DEATH'S DOOR. The Gold Coast club face having their NRL licence revoked after the Papua New Guinea government yesterday baulked at a $20 million sell-off package to save the club.

As a Queensland consortium last night stepped up plans to buy the Gold Coast's licence, the Titans current administration were dealt a near fatal blow as PNG government ministers cooled on a sell-off proposal after a feasibility study of the embattled NRL club.

Prime minister Peter O'Neill has been briefed on the Titans' perilous financial position.

Well-placed sources said Mr O'Neill was shocked to learn of the $35 million debt crippling the Titans' empire. In the political hotbed of PNG, he is reluctant to authorise a K44 million transaction to save an Australian rugby league club whose property arm was last week ruled "prima facie" insolvent by a federal court judge.

Gold Coast majority owner Michael Searle, who initially described sell-off reports as "disrespectful and repugnant", had hoped a 25% sale of the Titans group to PNG would bring in sufficient capital to rescue the ailing club.

But unless the PNG government has a major change of heart, or Searle finds a separate rescue-package, the Titans group is facing financial ruin.

A PNG source said: "They (the government) have looked at the Titans proposal and they said the debt is too great.

"They've done their due diligence. They're extremely worried about the club's debts."

Cricket: Barramundis hold their nerve against Italy

PAPUA NEW GUINEA HELD ITS NERVE to beat Italy by 12 runs and thereby gained the seventh spot in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2012 – an excellent outcome to the series that should see the Barramundis leap up the league table of international cricketing nations.

At the Global Cricket Academy Oval 2 in Dubai, PNG batting first posted 118-9 in its 20 overs.

In reply, Italy appeared to be cruising but ended up losing by just 12 runs to end at 106-7 in its 20 overs.

Earlier Tony Ura (37) top-scored as PNG appeared to have made an under-par total. Damian Crowley (3-18) and Carl Sandri (2-18) were the key wicket-takers for Italy.

In its chase, Italy were motoring at 81-3 in the 15th over when tragedy struck. It lost a couple of wickets, and momentum, as PNG - led by man of the match Hitolo Areni (3-9) - turned the match around.

PNG 118-9, 20 overs (Tony Ura 37; Damian Crowley 4-18, Carl Sandri 2-18) defeated Italy 106-7, 20 overs (Peter Petricola 30, Damian Crowley 24; Hitolo Areni 3-9). Man of the Match: Hitolo Areni (PNG)

NRL bid team denies squandering millions of dollars

BY PETER BADEL
THE COURIER-MAIL (Brisbane)

FORMER PAPUA NEW GUINEA STAR Marcus Bai has called for a PNG government inquiry following explosive allegations the PNG bid consortium has squandered almost $4 million in an attempt to clinch the next NRL licence.

A frustrated Bai said he felt the need to speak out about PNG bid team members and Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton.

Bai, a 14-Test Kumuls great, is adamant PNG has no hope of NRL admission until at least 2022.

The former Melbourne and Gold Coast premiership-winning winger said he became so disillusioned with "empty promises" - including a purported $100,000 job offer from Broughton that never materialised - he quit in protest as a PNG bid ambassador.

Within weeks of Bai's resignation in 2009, Maroons coach Mal Meninga also severed ambassadorial ties as concerns mounted over the direction of the PNG NRL consortium under Broughton and his wife Beverly, who stood down as general manager in November 2010.

The PNG bid team is now spearheaded by former Roosters and Cowboys player Brad Tassell, appointed CEO last March.

Investigations by The Sunday Mail have revealed that the Broughton-led bid team was allocated K20 million ($8.8 million) by former PNG prime minister Sir Michael Somare to advance the country's push for NRL inclusion.

Of that money, Bai claims K8 million has been spent on a futile bid for NRL admission, including an unspecified amount on international travel for the Broughtons between Australia and PNG, hotel accommodation and six-figure salaries for PNG bid team staff.

Bai says PNG realistically has no hope of winning admission to the NRL in the near future and has called for a government probe into the bid team's spending activities.

"I am asking the (PNG) government to run an audit," he said.

"I am a proud Papua New Guinean and the PNG people should be angry like I am right now.

"The Broughtons and the bid team were given K20 million by Somare. My information is that K12 million remains in the bank; K8 million has been spent and what has been done?

"Why have people like Paul and Bev Broughton been paid good money and what have they achieved?

"This is taxpayers' money. It should go to infrastructure in PNG, education for children, helping our agriculture. PNG people need financial help to make life easier, not money being spent on Australian bid team people for flights and accommodation.

"The tree has been planted but I see no fruit growing ... I'm filthy about it."

Getting the balance right: professional sport in PNG

BY DAVID KITCHNOGE

LET ME START BY SAYING anything that brings close to 800 different tribes in our country together as a united nation is a good thing. Because of our diverse cultures, anything that causes us to find common ground is an important agent for national unity, a prerequisite for proper and harmonious nation building.

For a lot of nations, it took terrible and forceful human tragedy that required people to stand up in unison to fight a common enemy to foster the sense of nationalism and pride. It took adversity to define their nation’s character.

But in the absence of a major calamity, sport has emerged over the years as an important agent that can foster similar national pride and camaraderie. The combative nature of sports is the one major striking similarity it has to a physical warfare. It is the element that promotes feelings of oneness and the pursuit of a common goal of victory.

It is no wonder that stories about sporting rivalries are often written using militaristic vocabulary. Hence, sport has become the modern day substitute of physical warfare and adversity to bring people together for a common goal. From this perspective, it is not hard to see why every Papua New Guinean from all four corners of our country shares the one common passion when our national teams go into battle with other teams from other countries.

Rugby league appears to be the most supported sporting code as demonstrated by the raw passion we have for our national team, the Kumuls. I know I shouted my lungs dry for our team when they played in the last rugby league world cup, and so were everyone on my street at Waigani, Port Moresby and indeed throughout the nation.

In the first game when we almost beat England, I was beaming with pride and tears freely rolled down my cheeks by default. I never forced the tears. They just came from nowhere. It was truly a rare feeling of adrenalin rush. I felt the same when Ryan Pini and Dika Toua competed at the Commonwealth Games and when Stanley Nandex head hunted his opponents with those powerful kicks.

Recognising the important uniting aspect of sports and rugby league in particular, our government has committed to building a modern stadium in Port Moresby and has put together a team to bid for the right to enter a PNG team in Australia’s National Rugby League competition.

Such a move appears to make sense from a social perspective. But how does it sit in the overall scheme of things in respect of where our national priorities lie.

We are now talking professional sport and there is much more to it than simply building a nice modern sporting stadium and entering a team in the NRL. Sport has evolved over the years to become an industry in its own right where its traditional entertainment value has been monetised.

It has become big business and, therefore, like every other business, the important precondition of a willing and able market must exist to sustain it. Without such a market, its imminent demise in the not too distant future is as sure as the going down of the rays.

PNG may offer lifeline for indebtedTitans

GOLD COAST BULLETIN

IT HAS BEEN REVEALED THAT the Papua New Guinea government has been in talks with the cash-strapped Gold Coast Titans rugby league team about buying 25% of the team.

But it seems all PNG would get in return would be a Titans trial match in PNG and the Titans’ ‘promotion’ of the logo of the bid that is trying to get a PNG team in the Australian competition.

Australian league identity Phil Gould is steering the Titans towards the sell-off package with PNG.

The Titans have had a multi-million dollar debt for the past three years and on Friday its $30 million property portfolio was the subject of liquidation proceedings in the Federal Court.

Negotiations began last year to sell off part of the Titans empire.

In October, it was revealed those talks had included PNG officials desperate to advance the country's bid for inclusion in the NRL.

At the time, the club described any suggestion that it would sell as 'disrespectful and repugnant'.

But the tune has now changed. Gould and the club’s CEO travelled to Port Moresby in January to escalate sell-off negotiations with representatives from the PNG prime minister's office.

Discussions were held at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby.

Preliminary negotiations indicate the club is prepared to sell 25% of the group in exchange for an alliance that could see the Titans play a trial in PNG and promote the bid team's logo.

In a text message last night, Mr Gould said: "I have been conversing with PNG government and bid team officials since I travelled to PNG nearly two years ago and I have met with them on numerous occasions during that time on a whole range of issues ... I am bound by confidentiality on all other issues (involving the Titans).''

Barramundis make solid start to world cup qualifier

FANS AT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM witnessed an intriguing match between Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea with PNG undertaking a stupendous run chase to win on the penultimate delivery of the last over.

Hong Kong chose to bat first, and scored a commendable 131 runs for the loss of nine wickets off its 20 overs.

PNG launched its run chase confidently as openers Asad Vala and Tony Ura made an opening stand of 57, ripping apart the confidence of the fielding side right from the word go.

Despite a batting collapse, middle-order batsman Geraint Jones brought the Barramundis to within 12 runs of victory but was dismissed with just four balls remaining in the match.

PNG snuck home off the penultimate ball to record its second win of the series.

After four of the seven matches, PNG is third in its eight-team group behind Afghanistan and Canada; it had previously lost narrowly to both teams.

The Barramundis are still in with a chance of making the finals and seem set, whatever the outcome, to zip up the world international cricket rankings.

PNG cricketers ready for toughest test yet

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S BID to qualify for the Twenty 20 Cricket World Cup begins in Dubai today with an opening match against Afghanistan.

The two teams open the 16 team qualifying tournament, from which the top two teams will advance to September’s World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Cricket PNG’s general manager, Greg Campbell, says the team is under no illusions that this will be the toughest event they’ve ever competed in.

“This will be a true benchmark of where we are,” he said.

“You know we play in the East Asia Pacific and we sort of dominate that, but we’re helping the other countries - Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa - come along and lift their standards so the EAP region can be strong.

“We’re going in their lacking experience but what these guys make up for is endeavour, hard work and their passion to represent their country and give it 100 percent.”

Greg Campbell says while they want to finish as high as possible a mid-table finish would be a good result for the Barramundi’s team.

You can follow the PNG team’s opening game on the internet here from 5pm (AEST).

I join the PNG team for the big Dubai 20/20 challenge

BY GERAINT JONES
GERAINT JONES BLOG

THE LAST FEW WEEKS have seen me clock up quite a few air miles as I took in a trip to Papua New Guinea and Australia.

I was lucky enough that my first flight to Singapore saw me get an unexpected upgrade thanks to my benefit chairman Min Patel.

He must have mentioned something to someone and when I got to the final gate I was all prepared for economy and when they scanned my ticket it all flashed red and I was pulled to one side. That meant I turned left when I got onto the plane giving me a chance to have a good snooze!

Once I got to PNG it was good to meet up with some of my new team-mates and we had a dinner which was for some sponsors and an awards night for the previous year. There were about 270 people there and that showed the level of support of cricket in PNG.

One of the sponsors on the night doubled the amount he was putting into the side, so that was great news.

I then had a couple of days back on [Queensland’s] Sunshine Coast with my family. I combined it with a bit of cricket whilst I was there. The school my sister (Mari) teaches at , there’s a tennis coach called Andrew Kratzmann and I spent an hour or so with him serving tennis balls at me, just to get me used to a few short pitched deliveries!

After the couple of days catching up with my dad and the rest of the family, I went onto Canberra to meet up with the rest of the PNG lads. Most of them had been in Melbourne playing club cricket and practicing together.

Unfortunately, we had three days of rain whilst I was in Canberra, so I flew all that way and ended up having indoor nets!

It did give me a chance to get to know everyone though and we spoke about my role in the side. As we will be playing seven games in seven days over in Dubai, I won’t be keeping wicket to start with, so I’ve been getting used to catching the ball without the gloves on.

It’s been a while since I’ve been out running around in the field. I’ve done the odd session at the end of a dead game, but the last time I did it really was on the 06/07 Ashes tour when Chris Read kept wicket whilst I played just as a batsman in Perth.

Prior to that I think it was my debut for Kent when I played just as a batsman, so it’s been a few years!

As a team, we also made a trip to the Australian War Memorial as it pays tribute to those that lost their lives during World War II and its particular importance from those of us from PNG and the significance of the Kokoda Trail.

I arrive [in Dubai] late on this evening and our first fixture is next Tuesday. That’s when we start the first of seven games against Afghanistan. It’s important we play well throughout the tournament as our funding is dependent upon where we finish.

We’ve got an outside chance of finishing in the top two places, although we’ll have to play well to challenge the likes of Ireland and Holland.

Our strength I would say is in our fielding and bowling. Most of the guys bowl a bit of something and bowl wicket to wicket, so hopefully we can cause a few upsets. We need to get off to a decent start though and you never know in Twenty 20 cricket.

High hopes for Barramundis as they train for Dubai

BY ADAM COOPER
THE AGE (MELBOURNE)

HE'S BEEN IN AUSTRALIA JUST A MONTH, but Australia's cricketing culture has rubbed off on Jack Vare, vice-captain of the Papua New Guinea side, when asked about the game in his homeland.

"It's all happening in cricket in PNG," he says, channelling his inner Bill Lawry. "Back home they say rugby is the No 1 sport, but cricket will get there … a few years ago we were ranked 25th in the world, now we're 19, so cricket is doing really well."

So well that Australia might one day look north rather than solely across the Tasman when it comes to cricket in its neighbourhood.

Although cricket has been in PNG for more than a century, after Australian and English missionaries took the sport there, it has boomed in the past few years and has lofty ambitions.

The number of youngsters playing the sport has more than doubled - to 116,000 - since 2009, while the controlling body has the dual aims of lowering its world ranking to within the top 15 and becoming the International Cricket Council's major centre in the east Asia region.

All this in a developing nation notable for its political instability, where many people live in extreme poverty and the majority live in rural areas in tribal societies. But that's not stopping Vare and his teammates getting ready to take on the world.

PNG's national team, the Barramundis, will this month aim to qualify for the world Twenty20 championships when they take on the ICC's leading associate members in Dubai.

Such is PNG's determination it has recruited former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, who was born in the country, to strengthen the side.

Vare and eight of his teammates have spent the past month in Melbourne playing club cricket and are now in Canberra, preparing for Dubai under new coach Peter Anderson, the former Queensland and South Australian wicketkeeper.

Vare, who is also a keeper and is determined not to relinquish the gloves to Jones, says a bold show in Dubai will help further grow the sport in his country and be an immense source of pride.

"It does mean a lot to the boys,'' he says. ''If we qualify we will be in the World Cup and that will be big for the country given what's happened and what's happening back home. In the cricketing history of PNG only the under-19s have qualified for a World Cup, never the national side.''

Ireland, Kenya and the Netherlands will be the teams to beat in Dubai, but PNG is confident of at least finishing in the top three in its eight-team pool, giving it a chance in the knockout phase.

Former Australian fast bowler Greg Campbell, the general manager of Cricket PNG, believes the country's love of the shortest format and the lack of attention globally will help the Barramundis.

"Twenty20 and 50-over games suits them down to the ground,'' he says. ''They're flamboyant, they're a great fielding side - some of the ovals they play club cricket on, it's a bit like playing on the moon and then going to Lord's - so they field out of their skins.

"These boys think they're going on a plane and playing in a tournament. We haven't mentioned there's a spot there in the World Cup. Teams like Ireland, they've got the pressure on them. I think it's a huge ace up our sleeve. Some of our boys, they don't know who they're up against, so that's a huge bonus for us."

Regardless of the outcome in Dubai, Campbell is amazed by the cricketing progress PNG has made in the 15 months he has been involved. It wasn't that long ago that some of Port Moresby's best ovals were places where people practised their car driving and drank. Now the city has good turf wickets and an established club competition.

PNG is also showing Australia the way. Campbell's predecessor, Bill Leane, made an inspired choice when he appointed Andy Bichel as national coach in 2010, before Bichel was last year appointed an Australian selector.

Similarly, Campbell appointed Brad Hogg as Bichel's replacement, until the wrist spinner regained favour with the Australian Twenty20 team. The group's contacts have also enticed Andrew Symonds, Michael Kasprowicz and Damien Martyn north for Twenty20 series.

Campbell likens PNG's cricketing culture to that of the Caribbean in its heyday, where even in the remote Highlands children played until dusk and everyone knows the results. But the traditional societies mean talented youngsters can be denied playing by family elders, and those who do play must be extremely devoted.

"If you're training at 9 am and blokes get there at quarter past, I've got to realise we can't berate them," he said. "There's no public transport, they probably walk five kilometres to get to training. They do put in a lot. There's a lot more effort that goes in than a lot of other countries."

Barramundis warm up for World Cup in Canberra

BY COURTNEY REES
THE CANBERRA TIMES

MEMBERS OF THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA cricket team, the Barramundis, are in Canberra preparing for the ICC World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers to be held in the United Arab Emirates from March 13-24.

Asad Vala and Jack Vare both played first grade cricket for the Canberra Ginninderra team last season but have now turned their attention to getting the Barramundis into the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in September-October.

To qualify for the World Cup the Barramundis, ranked 19th in the world, must make the final of the UAE tournament and new coach Peter Anderson is confident his team can ''sneak under the radar'' and surprise some of the stronger association teams.

''It is one of the biggest events in the history of PNG cricket so hopefully we will do well,'' Vare said. ''We are aiming to win the qualifying games so that we can go to the World Cup.''

Vare, who is a wicketkeeper, grew up idolising Australian keepers Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist after first being involved in the sport as an eight-year-old in his village in the capital Port Moresby.

Cricket is the second most popular sport in PNG after rugby league but Vala believes the sport is increasing in popularity, especially after the side's strong performances to qualify for the 16-team event.

''Cricket back home is not at the standard that we want it to be so if we keep on working at cricket the standard at home is going to be higher,'' Vala said.

The Barramundis have been buoyed by the addition of former English Test player Geraint Jones.

The 35-year-old, who was a member of England's victorious Ashes team in 2005, played 34 Tests. He is eligible to play for the Barramundis as he was born in PNG and spent the first six years of his life there.

Jones has not played for England since 2006 and the wicketkeeper jumped at the chance to be part of the squad.

''First and foremost I had to find out if the guys wanted me to be part of their group. They did and it wasn't a huge decision to make, I wanted to be a part of it and the chance to go to a World Cup is every cricketer's dream,'' Jones said.

Geraint Jones is ready to deliver for PNG

BY GIDEON BROOKS
DAILY EXPRESS (UK)

AS FAR AS GERAINT JONES CAN SEE, the only downside of disappearing to the United Arab Emirates to play for Papua New Guinea next month is that his wife Jen will be left to deal with lambing season.

With 10 ewes ready to deliver, the nights over the coming month could be long ones at their eight-acre farm near Sandwich, Kent and, as he pointed out with a laugh, it is not really a one-person job.

Particularly given there are chickens and a horse to look after too.

But at 35, the prospect of adding a notable postscript to his cricket career by helping the country of his birth qualify for the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka in September is, he believes on balance, worth it.

Even if that means an extra few quid for presents in Dubai duty free on the way home.

“The wife is not best pleased about the timing but she understands how serious I am about it and how realistic a chance they have. They are by no means a Mickey Mouse outfit,” he said.

“My understanding is that they have a group of young guys coming through who are really talented and that is starting to show in results. They are 19th in the world and rising.”

Jones, who was born to Welsh teacher parents in PNG and lived there until he was six, qualified for their T20 squad four years after playing his last match for England, in the Ashes in December 2006.

He does not remember too much about his formative years there aside from mangos growing in the back garden and houses on stilts in the water on the seafront in the capital Port Moresby.

But when contacted about the possibility of playing when his four-year exclusion period was up since his last England cap he jumped at the chance.

“It started with a chat with the guy who was running PNG cricket on the Lord’s balcony before a T20 game against Middlesex,” he said. “Right from the start I was interested.”

Whether PNG are improving enough to sneak one of the two places on offer for the main event in seven months is far from certain, but the inclusion of Kent captain and wicketkeeper Jones certainly shortens those odds.

“The likes of Ireland, Afghanistan, Scotland and Holland will be favourites but we get into that next group behind,” said Jones. “I would love to cause an upset and get pretty close.”

PNG squad confirmed for ICC World Twenty20

VOXY NEWS ENGINE

SOME OF THE VERY BEST CRICKETERS from the ICC's associate and affiliate member countries will assemble in the United Arab Emirates next month when the 16-team ICC World Twenty20 event will be staged across five venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

At stake in the UAE will be the two available places in the ICC World Twenty20 championship in Sri Lanka which will be played from 18 September to 7 October.

There will be 72 matches over 12 days and the first qualifier will emerge after the 61st match while the second qualifier will be known after the 71st match.

The winner of the 72nd and final match of the tournament will complete Group B by joining Australia and West Indies while the runner-up will team up with defending champion England and former winner India in Group A.

The event will see in action two international stars of the recent past - Michael Di Venuto and Geraint Jones.

Di Venuto, who will represent Italy, has played nine ODIs for Australia in 1997 while Jones, representing Papua New Guinea, played 34 Tests, 49 ODIs and two T20Is for England between 2004 and 2006. The 35-year-old Jones can play for PNG as he was born in Kundiawa, the capital of Simbu Province.

The PNG squad is: Rarua Dikana (captain), Geraint Jones, Jack Vare-Kevere, Jason Kila, Willie Gavera, Chris Amini, John Boge Reva, Tony Ura, Assadollah Vala, Chris Kent, Mahuru Dai, Vani Vagi Morea, Joel Tom, Hitolo Areni

Aussie rugby league tour is the ultimate prize

BY ERIN SOMERVILLE
CENTRAL WESTERN DAILY / ORANGE, NSW

FOR SOME, IT HAS BEEN THE ULTIMATE grand final prize. Papua New Guinea’s Western Highland Province team were awarded a trip to Australia to test Orange’s rugby league talent after taking out the premiership of their competition last season.

The team of 25 players makes up half of the 50 people from Mount Hagen who are in Orange to strengthen the Sister City relationship.

While the highlight of the visit will be the PNG team taking on Orange Indigenous All-Stars and Orange Barbarians over the weekend, this visit is about a lot more than footy.

The team’s trainer Solomon Kiap hopes it will be a life-changing experience.

“Most of these guys are unemployed,” he said. “We want to mould them and change in such a way they can become good citizens.”

The trip will be a chance to teach the entourage how to protect themselves off the field from drugs, alcohol and sexually-transmitted diseases including AIDS.

Mr Kiap hopes the players can take the positive aspects of Australia’s culture on board during the visit and put it into practise when they return home.

“We are hoping they can watch the lifestyle of Australians and change their mindset to live better,” he said.

Peter Anderson is new PNG cricket coach

ESPN CRIC INFO

PAPUA NEW GUINEA HAS APPOINTED former Queensland and South Australia wicketkeeper Peter Anderson as its new coach to replace Brad Hogg, who resigned following his recall to the Australian T20 side.

Anderson's first-class career spanned eight years from 1986-94. He made 1,399 runs from 56 matches, averaging 17.9, and effected 172 dismissals.

Cricket PNG general manager Greg Campbell said the team was looking for a long-term coach. The big assignment ahead is the World T20 Qualifier in March.

"We're coming into a very important and exciting time for Cricket PNG right now, and needed someone will to spend vast periods of time with the team," Campbell said.

“We've been blessed in recent times to have the both Brad Hogg and Andy Bichel working with the team, but given their reputations in the cricket world, they would always have opportunities knocking at the door. With Peter, we know we're going to get 100% and the vision and attributes he brings to the team will be great for the boys."

Anderson has been coaching local clubs in Queensland over the last six years and has also been working with wicketkeepers in the ICC Pacific region.

Mr Anderson will join the PNG team in Canberra next month.

International coaching role appeals to Geraint Jones

YOURCANTERBURY.CO.UK

AN APPEARANCE FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA next month is unlikely to be a one-off for Geraint Jones and the Kent wicketkeeper is open to the idea of coaching the national side in the future.

The 35-year-old was born in PNG and, several years after the idea was first suggested, he will make his debut in the Twenty20 World Cup qualifying tournament in Dubai.

Jones, who played 34 Test matches for England, has only been back to PNG once since leaving as a six-year-old, but is keen to share his experience beyond the event and even after the end of his playing career.

“I would like to think it’s something more regular,” he said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be involved a bit more and could lead to something other than just playing.

“There may be the potential of a coaching role down the line at some point, who knows.

“To be back playing international cricket is exciting and it’s a new group of players. To qualify would be an amazing achievement, but we know it’s going to be tough.”

Coach Adam hoping to tackle domestic violence

BY JUSTIN HUNTSDALE
ABC Illawarra (NSW)

ADAM EVERILL SAYS ABOUT HALF OF THE WOMEN in Papua New Guinea will experience some sort of sexual abuse in their life.

This startling statistic has motivated the musician, concert promoter and former rugby league coach to visit PNG to take what he hopes will be an effective method of reducing violence against women.

PNG loves rugby league, and the male-dominated sport is where he'll focus his attention, providing financial and material contributions to clubs on the provision they sign a code of conduct.

"We've borrowed a successful program run here in New South Wales and in Queensland and modified them slightly - [as well as signing the code] they have to go to workshops and be part of a local awareness campaign," he said.

"We want to use players in the materials we use in the workshops and school work, and we want to do a national awareness campaign too.

"The two main newspapers there are quite sympathetic to the anti-violence cause."

Adam is spending three weeks in Papua New Guinea.

Cricket match lends a hand to those in need

BY KATHRYN BENNETT
Melbourne Weekly

PAPUA NEW GUINEA CRICKET WILL GET A BOOST when the national team goes head-to-head with the Hawthorn Cricket Club for a charity match today.

Watch the game from 10am, January 29, Rathmines Road Reserve, Rathmines Road, East Hawthorn. Entry is free.

The idea came to Hawthorn coach Dan van den Hoek [pictured] when he was volunteering for an exhibition game between the under-16 Papua New Guinea and West Indies teams.

“I thought it would be a great chance to expose players to an international standard and generate more exposure for the Papua New Guinea team,” he says.

Van den Hoek approached the team manager of Papua New Guinea, Pat Khan, who happened to be a family friend. In just a few weeks, they put together a full day of cricket and fund-raising at the Ainslie Park club in Croydon, where van den Hoek was a player.

Three hundred people turned out to see the PNG side win both games. Nine cricket bags full of second-hand equipment were donated to the club.

“It also doubled as a fund-raiser for the club and we donated the money to the bushfire appeal,” says van den Hoek. “It was a great result considering we didn’t have much publicity or time before the day.”

When van den Hoek moved from Ainslie Park to Hawthorn, he decided to bring the idea with him.

He approached PNG’s team again, this time through chief executive officer Bill Leane.

“Bill was more than happy to oblige and give us the chance to raise some money again,” says van den Hoek.

The aim of the match is to promote grassroots cricket in Victoria and develop the game in Papua New Guinea. While the country’s fledgling cricketers are attracting international attention, they struggle to sustain themselves at a local level.

Papua New Guinea is currently ranked 19th in the world in One Day International matches by the International Cricket Council.

The team is rated the best ODI cricket-playing nation in the east Asia-Pacific region, while the under-19s side has qualified for the World Cup.

Van den Hoek says the team takes every opportunity to practise in attempts to improve their ranking on the ICC ODI table.

“It should be a good game,” he says. “This year I think the game will be much closer, with more players available due to the weekend fixture – rather than midweek like last year – and a great depth of talent at Hawthorn Cricket Club.”

Hogg's change of plans was prompted by PNG ‘joy’

BY PAUL BARBIERI
Sportal.com.au

AUSTRALIA'S LATEST TWENTY20 RECRUIT - and certainly its oldest - Brad Hogg was meant to be heading to the Twenty20 World Cup next September as coach of the Papua New Guinea national side.

Instead, he could be heading there as a player after his fairytale selection in the Australian side to play in two Twenty20 Internationals this summer against India was confirmed on Monday.

And he credits an enthusiastic PNG side for reinvigorating him with the “joy” that prompted his comeback.

Hogg will be turning 41 next month, with his call-up coming almost four years after he retired from all forms of the game for personal reasons in March 2008 after 15 years of playing.

But having spent time coaching the PNG national side - a group he hoped to take to the T20 World Cup - Hogg rediscovered his love of the game.

"Andy Bichel was doing the job and I was going to take over when Bichel decided to leave," Hogg explained.

"Those things have changed. But I'll stay involved in some capacity. I'll keep chatting with Greg Campbell, who's in charge."

"They're a pretty talented squad and an interesting group of people," he added.

"The enthusiasm over there for the way they go about their cricket, gave me the joy to come back and play for the Perth Scorchers."

Geraint Jones ready to turn out for PNG cricket

BY KEITH JACKSON

FORMER ENGLAND TEST CRICKET WICKETKEEPER, Geraint Jones MBE, just selected in the Papua New Guinea T20 team, was only six when his family left PNG in 1982.

His mother and father had arrived in PNG as teachers on New Year's Eve 1971, remaining until September 1982.

Geraint's dad, Emrys, who now lives on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was deputy headmaster at Kerowagi High when Geraint (‘Jonesy’ to his mates) was born in Kundiawa Hospital in 1976.

Emrys served later as principal of Mt Hagen Park High School, finishing his 11-year stint in PNG as a senior curriculum adviser with the Education Department in Waigani.

“My own memories of PNG limited,” Geraint tell me, “but my main memory is of Port Moresby - looking out from the beach at the houses on stilts in the water, eating mangoes with my next door neighbour in the back garden, and playing soccer.”

Now Geraint, 35, is returning to play cricket for his country of birth as PNG seeks entry into the elite group of nations that will compete in the world T20 tournament in Sri Lanka later this year.

Sixteen second ranking cricketing countries will contest two available spots in the T20 in a qualifier to be held in Dubai.

Geraint has been back to PNG once since he left - with the MCC on a cricket tour in 2007.  “I suppose it has been since then that I have been in PNG's cricketing thoughts,” he says.

He first started playing cricket at Wilsonton Primary School in Toowoomba when the family went to Australia.  Geraint was aged six. “I tried to be a bowler to start with, but quickly realised that wicketkeeper was my position. I loved the involvement levels you get - and diving around!”

That “diving around” secured him 128 catches and five stumpings in Test cricket.

He’s also a hard hitting right hand bat whose 34 Test matches for England yielded a century and six fifties at an average of nearly 24.

In addition, and of particular interest to Cricket PNG right now, is his track record of 80 20/20 matches.  His debut in this form of the game was against Australia, where he opened and scored 17 at a strike rate of 136 an in a huge England win at Southampton.

“It has been a couple of year process to get to this point of me being able to play for PNG,” Geraint says.

“I was first contacted by Bill Leane (CEO of Cricket PNG) about playing and we met at Lords to talk it over. The sticking point was the amount of time I needed to spend in PNG to qualify.  But this was to play 50 over cricket. T20 has different qualification rules, which allows me to play in T20 competitions.

“As we had been in contact the option of playing in the world cup qualifier came up and I jumped at the chance.

UK test cricketer Geraint Jones to play for PNG

BY ROB FORSAITH
Nine MSN

FORMER ENGLAND WICKETKEEPER Geraint Jones will make a surprise return to the international cricket arena in March when he represents Papua New Guinea at the World Twenty20 qualifier in the UAE.

Jones was born in Kundiawa and recently approached Cricket PNG with his desire to represent his country of birth.

Jones' county side Kent, the ECB and ICC all gave their blessing, and Cricket PNG boss Greg Campbell was happy to accommodate the 35-year-old, who played 34 Tests and was awarded an MBE for his part in England's breakthrough 2005 Ashes triumph.

"I couldn't believe it when Geraint contacted us. He is genuinely excited about coming to play and helping us achieve the dream of a World Cup spot," Campbell said.

"He has played so many games at the highest level. His talent and experience will be incredibly valuable for us."

Jones will link up with PNG, who are coached by Brad Hogg, for a training camp in Canberra in February before departing for Dubai.

PNG will be one of 16 nations competing for two spots at the World T20, which will be held in Sri Lanka this year.

The winner of the tournament will be pooled with Australia and West Indies, while the other finalist will be in a group with defending champions England and 2007 winners India.

While rugby league is the national sport of PNG, cricket has enjoyed a recent renaissance.

Hogg last year took over the coaching reins from Andy Bichel, who had helped trigger a sharp ascent up the ICC's rankings.

PNG earned promotion to the World Cricket League Division 2 last year, and will be jostling against the likes of Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland and Afghanistan for a place at this year's T20 showpiece

Paul Aiton pleased with UK rugby league

BY SIMON HATTON

PAPUA NEW GUINEA INTERNATIONAL Paul Aiton will get his first taste of derby action when his Wakefield side takes on Castleford in a pre-season rugby league friendly tomorrow.

Aiton, 26, has made the switch to the UK suburb of Belle Vue from Australia’s Cronulla over the off season, and is one of a number of new faces in the Wakefield Wildcats line-up.

"It’s been really good and everyone has been really friendly,” Aiton says.

"It’s a good bunch of blokes and there’s some good fans and some good sponsors from those I’ve met already, and they’re really inviting and very supportive.

“I’m really looking forward to be involved at the weekend. You hear it from everyone. You’re just having a chat and they’ll say, ‘You’ve got to beat Castleford’."

It's a friendly that promises to be anything but, although Aiton will get plenty of experience of derby days this season with the Wildcats guaranteed to face Castleford at least three times this campaign.

Source: Love Rugby League

Pacific the target for Aussie Rules expansion

BY JESPER FJELDSTAD

THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE has identified the South Pacific as its growth area, with the region seen as ripe for mass participation.

The AFL has intensified its efforts in the region following the success of players with Pacific heritage, such as Brisbane premiership player Mal Michael (Papua New Guinea), West Coast's Nic Naitanui (Fiji) and Power pair David Rodan and Alipate Carlile (Fiji).

The move has left previous expansion markets, most notably Ireland, in the shade. The South Pacific is also considered a more viable target than North America, which had previously been seen as a potentially fertile recruiting ground.

Initiatives in the South Pacific include:

STAGING international championships in the region.

HOLDING a draft combine (previously known as draft camp) with thorough testing of talent.

HELPING to set up football programs, and

ALERTING clubs to local talent and encouraging them to pick up players under the international scholarship scheme.

The AFL sees the South Pacific and South Africa as the main markets with potential for growth, and now views Ireland and North America as having little realistic chance of bringing a mass of players. Several clubs have also baulked at the expense of recruiting from the northern hemisphere.

The added bonus of the South Pacific is that children are already familiar with the game because of Australia's proximity.

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said the league was aiming to double its overseas numbers within the next five years, with most of the growth coming from the region.

"We're really keen to build South Africa and the South Pacific in the traditional sense, to get participation numbers up," Sheehan said. "And from that talent emerges.

"Right at the moment, we have 100,000 people playing football around the world (outside Australia) and most of those are in the southern hemisphere.

"We'd like to build that to about 200,000 in five years. If we set it up, the kids will come and play, and we're really quite ambitious about South Africa and the South Pacific. In other parts, like the US, Canada and Ireland, there might be the odd one at 20 or 21 who might switch across, but we'll never grow to be quite large in the northern hemisphere.

"But we really think there's a niche for us in the southern hemisphere to grow into a mass participation sport.

"The example of Vanuatu is quite special. They had a boy who last year made the South Pacific side and they were rapt. And off the back of him, they've now got 300 kids and adults playing footy, including women, open-age players, Aus-kickers.

"They now have regular training for various age levels. It's just marvellous to see the great spirit with which they play this new sport.

"A dozen kids have already been signed over the past couple of years.

"And the best of these boys will play for the South Pacific in the under-16 nationals next year, which will be the third year for this emerging market.

"The size of the region and the closeness to Australia - you can watch Australian television, see matches - and we're now starting to do a lot more with their promising athletes."

Source: Sunday Mail, Adelaide

Women's soccer reach highest ever ranking

Papua New Guinea’s women’s soccer team has reached its highest ever position on the FIFA Women's World Rankings.

Several teams reached their best-ever position including Papua New Guinea (52nd, up one), Spain, Mexico, Scotland and Wales.

USA remain at the top of the table but are under pressure from second-placed Germany. World champions Japan are in third place, also the highest rank they have ever achieved.

The current women’s world ranking includes 135 countries, the highest number since December 2007 when a new record was set with 150 teams.

The next FIFA world ranking will be published in March 2012.

Paul Aiton seals deal with Wakefield Trinity

PAPUA NEW GUINEA INTERNATIONAL rugby league hooker, Paul Aiton, who led his side in Four Nations 2010, has signed a two-year deal with the UK Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

This is a useful addition to the Wakefield, who are on a recruiting spree. Aiton is this year’s 17th uptake since Richard Agar slipped on the coaching hat.  Agar said, “Paul is a tough and committed player with a real strength of character who plays the game very quick and direct.

“He's a proven performer in the NRL and on the international stage with PNG where he has shown tremendous leadership qualities as their captain. As well as playing hooker, he'll fill a number of other roles for us too. He's a very experienced and high-quality performer.”

Aiton, who has reprsented PNG since 2004, kicked off his rugby league career with the Penrith in 2006, where he scored 39 points in his 70 games. After that, he joined Cronulla-Sutherland, where he has also played 39 games.

Source: Bettor.com

Titans will not play RL home games in PNG

THE GOLD COAST TITANS rugby league club has clarified its position in relation to a Papua New Guinea connection.

The club said that whilst there have been discussions about PNG becoming aligned to the Titans in a number of different ways, the club has not entered into 'sell-off talks' with the PNG consortium and will not be transferring home games to PNG as reported in media outlets.

Titans managing director Michael Searle said the club had been approached by the PNG consortium earlier this year to seek advice on various aspects of their push to join the NRL but no formal agreement had been reached.

"The reality is some nine months ago we were approached by a PNG consortium who identified the Titans as a dynamic and successful best-practice model for PNG's aspirations of eventually entering the NRL,'' said Searle.

"They felt they could learn from our experience about successful player recruitment, performance and commercial viability whilst continuing to achieve our objectives in the community around Health, Education, Training and Employment.

"They have since put forward various proposals on the table for discussion, including talent exchange programmes, social delivery of key messages around education and employment and a potential equity investment but we have not yet determined how best we can assist PNG's goals.

"One thing is for sure, the Titans are a Gold Coast team, and will always remain that, regardless of whether we agree to any link to PNG.

"We'll definitely continue to encourage and assist any initiative to involve PNG in the NRL, however, the club's stakeholders will not be selling any of their equity in the club."

Source: Titans Press Release, 17 November

PNG to NRL what West Indies were to cricket?

THE GOLD COAST TITANS are reportedly in talks with the consortium backing Papua New Guinea's NRL bid.

Should the buy-out proceed, there could be serious implications for Gold Coast fans.

"I keep hearing that the Titans are in a lot of cash trouble. I think it's only natural that these two consortiums would try and get in bed together," NRL great Mark Geyer said on Triple M’s Grill Team.

"The big thing here is they're trying to sell off home games to PNG," replied legend Matty Johns.  "That's a really worrying sign if you're a Gold Coast fan or the Gold Coast club."

"The Gold Coast has probably been the [Australian] town hardest hit by the economic downturn - it's a boom or bust town. They're going through very difficult times.

"If you go to Port Moresby, it's borderline lawless," Matty said.  "They've got to clean that up….

"One thing I'll say is [PNG] is oil-rich, they've got a lot of money up there in Papua New Guinea.

"Building stadiums and having money won't be a problem, they'll have to pay overs for players. They will be in a position to do that.

"The big thing will be getting the country in order," he continued.

"People say 'it can never happen, they're a third world country'.  Well, let me say this," Matty said emphatically, "I believe Papua New Guinea could be for rugby league what the West Indies were to cricket during the eighties."

Source: Radio triple M, 16 November

Will Genia nominated for international honour

AUSTRALIAN SCRUM half Will Genia has been short-listed for the 2011 International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year award. 

The PNG-born Genia is one of six players – three from New Zealand, two from Australia and one from France – being considered for Rugby’s top honour. 

Genia already has been voted Australian Rugby player of the year and he captained Australia in one of its early games in the present Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Along with the other Australian nominee, flanker David Pocock, Genia will play in today’s World Cup third-place play-off against Wales. 

The player of the year will be named at an awards ceremony that takes place in Auckland on Monday - the day after New Zealand and France meet in the final.

AFL taskforce kicks off in Papua New Guinea

THE PNG Australian Football League Taskforce has met for the first time during a visit to Port Moresby by the Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles.

The meeting was chaired jointly by Mr Marles and the PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Ano Pala.

"We know PNG is a sports-loving nation and this Taskforce is an important step in the development of a game much loved in Australia but less developed in PNG," Mr Marles said.

The Taskforce has set a range of goals including code development, community assistance programming, an elite player pathway with an expanded Academy program and the possibility of a PNG representative team playing on a weekly basis in an Australian football competition.

About 27,000 young Papua New Guineans currently play in school-based AFL clinics and competitions. Nine PNG boys are on AFL scholarships signed to clubs including Carlton, Essendon and the Brisbane Lions.

Participating in the meeting were senior government and AFL representatives including Tony Woods, AFL International Development Manager and John Kali, Secretary of the PNG Department of Personnel Management.

"We hope to create greater opportunities for gifted players to represent PNG professionally at home and abroad," Mr Marles said.

The meeting opened with an exchange of AFL guernseys. Mr Marles presented Mr Pala with a Geelong jumper signed by the 2011 AFL Premiership side while Mr Pala presented Mr Marles with a signed Mosquitos guernsey.

Source: Office of Hon Richard Marles MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, 19 October

PNG fourth in rugby league world rankings

PAPUA NEW Guinea has moved up to fourth place in the new official world rankings issued by the Rugby League International Federation.

Australia head the 28 countries as they go into their fixture with New Zealand, the World Cup and Four Nations champions, in Newcastle NSW next Sunday.

England is third and France remains in fifth place, ahead of Samoa and Wales.

The revamped rankings are calculated over a five-year period using a more accurate formula.  It is a ‘live’ system that will be updated monthly.

“From today we can accurately reflect the relative position of each of the growing number of international rugby league nations based upon their on-field performance,” said RLIF chairman Scott Carter.

Leading rankings

1 Australia (1,244.77 points)
2 New Zealand (1,062.30)
3 England (682.19)
4 Papua New Guinea (341.29)
5 France (250.03)
6 Samoa (159.50)
7 Wales (149.17)
8 Fiji (145.85)
9 Tonga (129.01)
10 Scotland (91.01)
11 Ireland (72.81)
12 Cook Islands (62.11)

Source: The Press Association, 8 October

Joint taskforce formed to give AFL a boost

BY MICHAEL CHRISTIANSEN

DURING THE last week, with the gradual building up of expectation for the fortunes of Geelong and Collingwood at the ‘G, it’s little wonder that the announcement by the AFL and MP Richard Marles failed to raise much of a profile.

But it was an important announcement - the AFL and federal government have launched a Papua New Guinea taskforce to expand Australian football in the Pacific region

Members of the taskforce are Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs Marles, PNG-born triple premiership player Mal Michael, DFAT representative and former Richmond player Ray Hall, AFL International Development Manager Tony Woods, AFL PNG Chairman Scott Reid, as well as key PNG government and business representatives and AusAID representatives.

Marles and PNG Foreign Minister Ano Pala are co-chairmen.

The Taskforce will look at all facets of the game including the implementation of development programs, football programs to assist with social issues, an elite player pathway with an expanded Academy program, and the possibility of a PNG representative team playing on a weekly basis in an Australian football competition.

"We know PNG is a sports-loving nation and this taskforce is an important step in the development of a game much-loved in Australia but less-developed in PNG,” Mr Marles stated.

AFL international development manager Tony Woods said the taskforce will engage with footballers throughout PNG.

More than 27,000 people currently play AFL in PNG and there are currently nine players on AFL international scholarships: Donald Barry – Brisbane Lions; Brendan Beno – Brisbane Lions; Ezra Kautu – Brisbane Lions; Peter Labi – Carlton; Max Lavai – Essendon; David Meli – Essendon; Theo Gavuri – GWS Giants; Nathan Malbak – Richmond; and Gideon Simon – Richmond.

The footy credentials of PNG are pretty clear. The future is looking brighter.

Source: World Footy News, 4 October
http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20111003232035811

Shots & rocks as Australia beats PNG in league

BY EOIN BLACKWELL

THE AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister's XIII took down a wily Papua New Guinea 36-22 on Sunday, in a rugby league encounter dominated by big hits on field and gunfire outside the Lae stadium.

The tone was set early when the home side responded to an early try to Canterbury NRL flyer Josh Morris by zeroing in with a series of huge hits in defence.

The Kumuls maintained the intensity in front of an estimated crowd of 15,000 packed into Lae's 2000-seat oval.

Canberra's Blake Ferguson also scored for Australia but, with a halftime lead of just 12-0, the Kumuls weren't without hope. However, Australia kicked away shortly after the break.

Ferguson bagged a double and, undeterred by sounds of gunfire outside the stadium as police battled to control some 7,000 people who had missed out on a ticket, Parramatta's Luke Burt scored and converted his own try.

A runaway effort by South Sydney flyer Nathan Merritt and a token conversion by fan favourite and captain Nathan Hindmarsh put Australia comfortably ahead 30-0, before the locals started to rally.

Australian players are idolised in PNG, the only country in the world with rugby league as the national sport.

But sensing the growing disapproval and agitation in the bleachers at the lopsided scoreline, the Kumuls' attack hit back with three quick-fire tries, the first scored after 50 minutes by Dion Aiye.

With each roar of approval from the stands, rocks were thrown over the fence and onto the field by the angry fans outside.  This was answered by a rapid series of gunshots.

Morris kept his cool, completing a double and scoring Australia's final try, which was converted by another unlikely candidate in Souths' captain Michael Crocker.

PNG finished on a high however, when Joshaia Abavu made a last-second dash from halfway to score the Kumuls' fourth try and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Hindmarsh said the game went as expected.  "Always big hits when we're in PNG playing against the Kumuls, but we knew that coming into the game.

"They're known as big hitters. Our front row and our forwards handled that very well.  The gunshots weren't too bad, it was the rocks on the field that worried us more."

Kumuls captain and Cronulla hooker Paul Aiton was very happy with the result.

"This is a stepping stone," he said. "We're building to the World Cup. I'm pretty proud of the boys."

Source: AAP, 25 September
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/australia-beat-png-in-rugby-league-clash-20110925-1krg6.html

PNG Isa Wantoks win north-west Rugby 7s

BY NEIL RATLEY

THE ISA WANTOKS recovered from a slow start to scorch the opposition and make it back to back 2011 Xstrata PICAM Rugby 7s titles at the weekend.

With temperatures pushing towards 40 degrees, the Papua New Guinea side, backed by a passionate and vocal fan base, proved too fast and too skilful to defeat a gallant Overlander Panthers team 39-14 to lift the PK Cup for the second year running.

Two blistering tries to player of the tournament Alex Ambia and young speedster Alex Ryan paved the way for the deserved victory.

After losing their opening two games on Friday evening the Wantoks' chances of defending their title looked to be on shaky ground.

"I think we underestimated how much the other teams wanted to knock us over," Wantoks captain/coach Neville Rainey said after his team's triumph.

"Those early games gave us a bit of a shock but I sat the boys down and we regrouped to beat Matariki in our final game on Friday night."

Rainey said the win against a tough and talented Matariki team buoyed the players spirits and they kicked on from there.

The cup final between the Isa Wantoks and the Overlander Panthers was a match-up that promised to showcase the best of sevens rugby with speed and ability on both sides.

It was Ambia who fired early for the Wantoks when he found open space and his electric pace did the rest to put the Wantoks ahead.

It was soon 12-nil when Matty Toby broke through the Panthers line and put the foot down.

When Ambia swooped on a loose ball inside his own 22-metres and set sail downfield to touchdown despite some desperate cover defence, the Panthers were in trouble.

After two seasons and with the tournament looking to get bigger and better, the Wantoks showed why they were still the only side to have held aloft the PK Cup.

Meanwhile, in the second annual Asia-Pacific Women's Sevens in Borneo, PNG defeated China 24-10 thanks to a hat-trick from Joanna Lagona. The win for PNG saw them claim their first APWS title after losing to Kazakhstan in last year's final.

Samoa, whose only defeat in the tournament was at the hands of PNG in yesterday's Cup semi final, beat Hong Kong 17-5 to take the bronze medal. Singapore edged Cook Islands 7-5 to claim the Plate.

The APWS is an innovative tournament that combines eight women's teams from the Asian Rugby Football Union and the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions.

Photo: The Isa Wantoks' Johnny Ellis, Neville Rainey, Alex Ryan and Alex Ambia show who's number one. The four all starred as their side defended their Xstrata PICAM Rugby 7s title (Neil Ratley)

Source: The North-West Star, 26 September
http://www.northweststar.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/wontoks-win-rugby-7s/2303006.aspx?storypage=0

Gillard’s league team takes timely message to PNG

BY PAUL KENT

 
FOR SOME YEARS now an Australian prime minister's rugby league XIII has played a Papua New Guinea side in Port Moresby and has always arrived with a message.

In previous years it has been the dangers of unsafe sex. Now they arrive with a different message – Stop Violence Against Women.

"Two out of three women [in PNG] have suffered some sort of violence against them," player Nathan Hindmarsh says.

The violence rages from all kinds, from domestic abuse to rape, date rape, marital rape, payback rape, incest, child abuse, abduction for rape and a far too generally accepted violence for men against women.

"A lot of the stuff in Papua New Guinea that goes on is with the older generation," Hindmarsh says. "If we can get up there and influence the younger generation that it's not OK and this is not the done thing we're getting somewhere."

Rugby league players have always been tough. It's a requirement. Which is why the players will be pushing the message that "strong men don't hit women".

The first time Hindmarsh was in PNG he hardly believed the affect the team had on the locals.

"They were trying to climb in the bus windows and what-not," he says. "So you do appreciate the influence you have on the Papua New Guinean people."

So the last time he went, he took a bag of old training gear and tossed items into the crowd.

This time the team will wear a violence against women message on all their training gear, and white armbands will be common.

And if only a little of that gear makes it into the community afterward, a constant reminder to keep their hands in check, the message will be worthwhile.

Photo: Australian Rugby League player Nathan Hindmarsh modelling a shirt which will be worn during Australia's tour of PNG [Brett Costello]

Source: Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 24 September
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/the-pms-team-is-taking-a-timely-message-on-tour-to-new-guinea/story-fn7sho5b-1226144916059

Will Genia to captain Australia against USA

BY DONALD HOOK

PNG-BORN Will Genia will captain Australia in the Rugby World Cup game against the United States in Wellington tonight.

Genia, 23, became Australia’s 78th test captain when the selectors chose to rest skipper James Horwill who has shoulder soreness.

As the Wallabies recover from a 6-15 loss to Ireland, Genia is confident Australia can win the World Cup.

He told journalists: “I don’t see why not. We’ve lost one game. We’re not out of it yet.”

Sports unillustrated: The missing box

BY PHIL FITZPATRICK

IN THE LATE 1960s I had a short and inglorious career as a local government advisor.

The financial health of the council was a bit dodgy.  To make matters worse things kept turning up for which there were no ordering records and no apparent provisions in the budget.  Things like tipper trucks and Land Rovers.

I began to dread opening the mail and going into town.

One day two large cardboard boxes turned up at our local freight company.

They’d come from Australia.  I had them placed in a corner in the office and sat down.  The council clerk came in and followed my gaze.  He sighed deeply and said, “Oh dear!”

We walked past them for about three days.  Then one day the driver of our clapped-out Toyota Stout came into the office with his wife.  She let out a delighted yelp and pounced on the boxes.

Turns out they were sports uniforms for the women’s club and had already been paid for by the good ladies.  The clerk and I both sighed with relief.

The driver’s wife popped the boxes open and examined the contents.  “Where is the other box?” she asked.

I shook my head.  “There were only two boxes; I can check when I go back into town next week.”

“We’ve got a big softball match on Saturday and a netball game on Sunday after church,” she replied.  “The ladies will want to wear their new uniforms when they find out they’ve arrived; we’ve been waiting months for them.”

“That’s okay,” I said without enthusiasm.  “If there’s another box I’ll make sure I get it as soon as possible.”

She looked a bit dubious and then shrugged.  She loaded the clerk and her husband up with the boxes and pushed them through the door.

That Saturday morning the village ladies turned up at the school oval and retired to the principal’s office to swap their grass skirts for the new uniforms.

They looked very smart when they emerged.  Their blouses were a bright green with their team name and numbers emblazoned on the back in bright yellow.  Below, they had beautifully contrasting short skirts in dark green.

They looked very professional.  Their visiting opponents looked dull by comparison.

When I left the game was in full swing.  The usual thirty or so faithful spectators were strung out around the edge of the pitch.

When the clerk and I checked a bit later the crowd of spectators had grown appreciably.

“Shows what a well turned out team can do for the sport,” I said to the clerk.  He nodded sagely.

The next day the netball match attracted an even bigger audience.  I was duly impressed.  Even the men were out in force.

The clerk and I wandered over for a look.  We had to elbow our way through the crowd.

After a particular spectacular goal the clerk turned to me and said, “I think I know what’s in the missing box sir.”

I nodded.  “A dozen pairs of dark green underpants.”

But the clerk didn’t reply; he was trying to manoeuvre closer to the game.

The Kwikila Cup

BY PHIL FITZPATRICK

YOU’VE PROBABLY never heard of the Kwikila Cup.

It was briefly one of the most prestigious boating events in the South Pacific.

It was the predecessor of the mighty Wahgi River Gumi Races.

For a while it was on a par with the Americas Cup.

I had the modest distinction of crewing the runner up in the second race of 1967.

I’m not sure whether it was the invention of Jack Baker, Ernie Sharp or Bruce Dunn; maybe they all had something to do with it.

The craft were standard 12 footers lashed together with bush rope and shaped something like the faggots on a witch’s broom.

The wide stern was normally where the takings from the days gardening sat; along with the odd child, mangy dog and grumpy grandmother.

The pointy bow, the apex of the broom, was the business end where the skipper stood with pole or paddle.

The venue was the mighty Kemp Welch.

The crews comprised two each of specially selected green and pasty Cadet Patrol Officers.

In their utilitarian form these trusty craft were generally deployed strategically somewhere between the gentle ebbs and backflows of the river bank and the edge of the swifter flowing central stream.

For the purposes of the race, however, caution was thrown to the wind and the raging torrent was engaged head on.

This tended to make things very interesting.  Hitting a gravel bar at full tilt tested the very mettle of craft and crew. 

In my particular case I had teamed up with a fellow officer who, through no fault of my own, would eventually become a brother in law.

We were both English-born, he more so than me.  Our immediate competition came from a large South Australian and a diminutive but savage Welshman called, as you’ve no doubt guessed, Taffy.

The Welsh and the English do not get on well; a bit like Bukas and Simbus on a dark night.

All was going well.  We were racing neck and neck.  With only a few hundred metres to the finishing line both our disintegrating craft looked like they’d make the distance.  The rest of the pack was so far behind as to be out of mind.

One bend to go.  I was paddling like mad and yelling in encouragement at my erstwhile brother in law.  He was rapidly losing his temper.

In the flurry of water and angst we made a fatal error.  We tried to tack into the corner of the bend and hit slack water.  No winged keels in those days to help.  The big South Australian and the grinning Welshman surged ahead and took the lead.

Our only satisfaction came when we saw the deluge of flour, kitchen slops and other unmentionables cascading down off the bridge onto the victors.

For a victory snatched so cruelly from our very grasp that was at a least mollifying.

This article was published in today’s Independence Day supplement of the PNG Post-Courier

Heather Watson plays the match of her life

BY COLIN HUGGINS

 

AT ONE STAGE I thought Miss Heather Watson was about to remove Will Genia from sporting front page news in the Papua New Guinea newspapers.

Playing the main draw at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career, Miss Watson took one of the world’s best to three sets in the first round of the US Open.

Miss Maria Sharapov, the number three seed, dropped the first set in toughing out a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over teenager Miss Watson, who has a Papua New Guinean mother but now plays for Britain.

I imagine being on centre court in that huge New York stadium will boost her confidence no end. It was, all in all, a very courageous effort, especially the 63-minute second set.

Miss Watson, the US Open girls' champion two years ago, is just 19.

Never say die: PNG reaffirms NRL intent

RUGBY LEAGUE authorities in Papua New Guinea say they are still committed to their bid for a place in Australia's national competition.

It comes after prime minister Peter O'Neill told local media the bid was unrealistic.

Australian NRL chief David Gallop had earlier announced no new teams would be accepted.

Graham Osborne, from PNG's NRL bid committee, said claims the new government did not support the bid were untrue.

"They're [the government] not going to cancel the bid," he said.

Mr Osborne said the committee had been asked to review its operations and report back to the government.

"The previous government committed a terrible amount of money to this... if there's no outcome we'll wonder if the money is well spent or not."

Mr Osborne said there were eight to 10 teams vying for a place in the competition.

Source: Australia Network News

Genia stars as Wallabies triumph at last

BY DONALD HOOK

THE AUSTRALIAN Wallabies have won Rugby’s Tri-Nations Trophy after a decade of being also-rans.

In Brisbane last night the Wallabies defeated the New Zealand All Blacks 25-20 after leading 20-3 at half time.

And once again it was the brilliance of Will Genia making the break with an awesome dummy pass that led to Kurtley Beale scoring the winning try.

Genia, already voted Australian Rugby player of the year, had earlier scored himself, tricking the defence with a dummy from a ruck near the Kiwi try line.

The 23-year-old PNG-born scrum half said later it was not an easy thing to beat the All Blacks.

“We’ve done something that the All Blacks have done so many times, so we’ll enjoy it but be humble.”

Asked about Australia’s chances in the forthcoming World Cup, Genia said: "“We will just enjoy winning the Tri-Nations and the World Cup will take care of itself.”

The Wallabies play Italy in their opening World Cup game in Auckland on Sunday 11 September.  The other teams in Australia’s pool are Ireland, Russia and the United States.

Heather Watson limbers up for the US Open

BY COLIN HUGGINS

THE UNITED STATES tennis open starts tomorrow and young Miss Heather Watson, Papua New Guinea’s sweetheart and presently ranked 104 in the world, has got a direct entry into the main draw.

Unfortunately the “tennis gods” were not favourable to Heather in the draw.

Her first opponent is none other than a previous title holder (2006) and a former world number one, Miss Maria Sharapova of Russia, who is seeded 3.

Nevertheless, Heather can gain more experience from this draw and she can be assured of playing on centre court at Flushing Meadows, New York.

If this is a night match, then the crowds will be there. Yes, a big learning experience.

Ireland defeats PNG in AFL world cup

BY JORDAN LAING

IRELAND CAME from four goals down to win the 2011 International Cup, defeating Papua New Guinea by 18 points at the MCG.

It is the Warriors' second major title on the world stage and an unforgettable performance enjoyed by all spectators at the home of football.

It was a fitting end to the International Cup, claimed in spectacular fashion by the never-say-die attitude of the Irish.

For Papua New Guinea, they'll be ruing their missed opportunities in front of goal and the chance to be the first side to win back to back titles.

Unfortunately for the Mosquitoes, it wasn't meant to be, despite dominating the first half and having their chance to build a match-winning lead at the main break.

In the end Ireland was simply too determined and too good, claiming their second International Cup by 18 points over the team they defeated in their golden year, 2002.

It was a highly entertaining match where there were huge pack marks, crunching tackles and clutch goals from the boundary. All in all, an excellent exhibition of the quality and style of international footballers playing the great game.

The opening quarter was riddled by turnovers as both teams tried desperately to get over their opponents' defensive walls and settle some early nerves.

PNG struck the first blow through Ali Pinda (No.13) and player of the tournament Stanis Susuve (No.21) followed up with another major before the Warriors could register a goal.

Ireland had plenty of chances in the term but couldn't find a target in their forward-50. When Fergal McManus (No.4) stepped up for the Warriors and kicked an all important settling goal before the Mosquitoes hit back as David Meli (No.7) took advantage of a free kick just before the quarter-time siren to push his team's lead out to 14 points.

PNG picked up where they left off in the second term as Brisbane Lions scholarship holder Brendon Beno (No.1) showed the reason why he's got the potential to have a long and successful AFL career with a classy goal to extend his side's lead to four straight kicks.

Ireland emerged from the long break determined to get off to a good start and that's exactly what they did. McManus kicked his team's first for the term, and second of the match, then he followed it up moments later with another goal to get his side within five points of PNG.

The stage was set for a cracking final term and the star of the match Michael Finn (No.9) showed his class by kicking a crucial goal from outside-50 on the boundary, his third for the match, to put his team into the lead for the first time.

With 12 minutes to go on the clock, PNG was not going to let this match slip but despite having their chances they couldn't put pressure on the scoreboard.

Ireland was two goals in front when Purcell kicked truly and with one hand on this year's International Cup, the Warriors fought until the end to claim the title by 18 points for the second time.

Ireland 8.5 (53) def Papua New Guinea 5.5 (35)

Source: afl.com.au

PNG not supported for NRL expansion

PAPUA NEW GUINEA has more public relations work to do in Australia if it is to qualify for entry to the National Rugby League.

PNG received just 7 percent of votes in a poll asking which teams should be included in a possible NRL expansion in 2013.

The NSW Central Coast polled best with a decisive 46% followed by Perth 23%, Central Queensland 10% with PNG in fourth place just ahead of the Brisbane Bombers.

Despite the poll results, the general feeling is the Brisbane Bombers and Perth remain the favourites to be added to the competition.

Source: Radio New Zealand International

PNG are favourites for Rules grand final

BY JORDAN LAING

THE MOSQUITOES Australian Rules football team is the first through to this year’s International Cup Grand Final in Melbourne following their convincing 47-point win over a gallant USA Revolution.

Papua New Guinea is now in perfect position to become the first team to win back-to-back Cups after producing another scintillating performance in front of hundreds of supporters at Royal Park.

Credit to USA who gave their all as key forward Bryan Dragus continues to shine in the stars and stripes.

It has been an improved performance by USA in this series and their journey will give the players a lot of confidence heading into the next tournament in three years time.

From the opening bounce of the match, the Mozzies showed their class, style and skill by kicking the first goal through Stanis Susuve (#21) within the opening minute. It was a lead they never let slip.

In a bruising and physical match, the USA threw everything at the Mosquitoes but they were no match in the end.

Trailing by 36 points at halftime, USA hit back in the third quarter but couldn’t curb the rampaging PNG midfielders and forward line.

While USA played gallantly in the loss and had their stars they couldn’t reduce the end margin, falling short by 47 points.

For PNG on the other hand, they continue their undefeated streak in the tournament and will head into the grand final as deserving favourites.

Stanis Susuve was again a standout for the Mosquitoes kicking four goals while Emmaus Wartovo (#12) and Gideon Simon (#4) were also instrumental in the victory.

PNG will now play the winner of the Ireland and New Zealand match for a shot at this year’s title.

Papua New Guinea 9.14 (68) d USA 3.3 (21)

Source: www.afl.com.au

Long road to top for man from Bougainville

BY DAVID SYGALL

TEENAGER BRENDAN BENO has a big future in the Australian Football League after more great displays in the International Cup for Papua New Guinea.

It wasn't for some time after Brendan arrived at the under-18s match between PNG and the Australian Boomerangs indigenous side a few years ago that officials realised the enormity of the trek he'd made to get there.

Beno turned up in thongs and shorts, looking tired but keen to play the Australians. He eventually let on he'd hitched a ride in a boat from his home in Bougainville, hitched a couple more car rides and made it to the ground with 10 minutes to spare after a journey of over 1,000 kilometres.

''He had a bit of a sleep and shower and by the second game, he was superb," Andrew Cadzow, the AFL development officer for the South Pacific, said.

Beno is now an international scholarship holder with the Brisbane Lions and lives at the AFL's PNG Academy in Port Moresby, where he's getting an education and hoping to become a senior player.

He is in Australia representing PNG in the International Cup. If his side makes the finals, he will have the chance to play at the MCG.

Beno is a man of few words, but said yesterday his favourite player is Lions champion Jonathan Brown. "He's big and strong," he said. "I met him last year when I was in Brisbane and he told me to work really hard and one day I'll be in the Brisbane side.

"I hope that happens. Brisbane's a nice place, nice people down there and I'll be spending a lot of time down there."

The 17-year-old 173-centimetre forward has a genuine future in the game, Cadzow said.

"He's a very good small forward, very smart on the field, a bit of a Stephen Milne-type player but with better hands. He's very elusive and always kicks goals off both left and right feet.

“He's a Bougainville boy and we saw him playing in a representative carnival as an 11-year-old. We weren't sure of his age so he played in our PNG under-14 side for four years.

"Now he's full time at Port Moresby at the PNG Academy. Brisbane saw him 18 months ago and signed him up. He'll move to Brisbane next year, I'd imagine. I think he's got a genuine future. He'll be listed. His endurance is very good at this age, which is generally poor. Brisbane is pretty excited about it and he'll be there working hard next year."

2012 U19 cricket World Cup group draw

TEAM GROUPINGS for the 2012 Under 19 cricket World Cup in Australia have been finalised by the International Cricket Council.

2000 and 2008 champion India has been drawn in Group C along with Papua New Guinea, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Defending champion Australia will head Group A, having been drawn alongside 1998 winner England, Nepal and Ireland.

Group B is made up of the last event’s runner-up and two-time winner Pakistan, New Zealand, Scotland and Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Namibia make up Group D.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat highlighted that the tournament has proved to be an important stepping stone for elite young cricketers aspiring to play international cricket.

He said it is an opportunity for them to develop and test their skills in a high-pressure situation against the world’s best at this level.

“In the past, we have seen some quality players come through the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, including star players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara, Ian Bell, Virat Kohli, Eoin Morgan, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla,” Lorgat said.

“I expect next year’s event to be no different in producing future world stars,” he added.

Brisbane Broncos give sponsorship the flick

BY MARGIE MCDONALD

THE BRISBANE BRONCOS will not renew a sponsorship deal with the Papua New Guinea NRL bid team because the club believes it is “politicising” its players and staff.

A 12-month contract with the PNG bid team was signed last year before current chief executive Paul White took the reins at the Broncos.

The deal included Broncos players wearing the bid team's logo on their shorts, signage at the Red Hill training ground and a live game promotion.  In last night’s game against Cronulla, the Broncos wore socks in the PNG national colours of red, yellow and black.

But that disappears next season. Mr White has renegotiated the deal and flew to Port Moresby to explain his reasons.

"We've rejigged the whole deal to make sure it's more about game development," he said.  "We've got a development officer now working with the PNG bid team.

"We know the possibility of an NRL team [in PNG] is a 10-year plan. So in the meantime, we want to genuinely see the growth of rugby league in PNG.

“It's the national game and we've got a large supporter base up there."

Source: The Australian