Both our PNG Kumuls and Santos PNG Orchids are doing well. I am so proud of both teams for representing PNG very well as worthy ambassadors. I have seen the PNG Kumuls promote PNG coffee in the market of the host country. I have also seen the United Nations and United Kingdom Aid support the coffee trade and other trades.
Further, I have seen the PNG Orchids doing well in working cohesively with the PNG High Commissioner paying respect as partner ambassadors.
As far as sportsmanship is concerned, our players have come a long way and I am confident that they are a success story for PNG.
The Kumuls and the Orchids representing PNG at the international level in itself to me is a win already. The exposure , the experience, and the strict routine of discipline and diet that they are being put through are winners. Whatever outcome we realise on the field of play will be another story of experience and celebrations for us all. If the scores do not favour PNG, it is still good as we will learn a good lesson from it.
If it is a win on the field, it will also be a win for PNG. I urge all our athletes to enjoy the game as neutral as they can play without nervousity or emotions. I urge all players to play with love and happiness for the game.
When meeting with the PNG Orchids at the PNG High Commission residence yesterday, I made the above remarks urging the PNG Orchids to play the game of win in their mind.
I told the girls that they were already champions and made PNG very proud. In order to win, you must win in your mind first. Your physical body will only follow your mind. Play not only to win today but establish your legacy that will live to tell the next generation who take after your sportsmanship to win many times in the many years to come.
I was honoured to meet such a very driving young team of women to have risen up to this international level to play the international game of rugby league.
In conclusion, the international competition was not fair and just. The world rugby league competition has lost its competitiveness! I urge the world rugby league cup management and other countries’ rugby organisations to relook at its competitiveness. The game is losing entertainment and business at the global level. Probably because some countries’ players are full-time professional players whilst other are mostly armateurs.
I urge the World rugby league body to address this matter so that level playing field is created for all to play a game more entertaining and business driving like we saw in the PNG vs Tonga game.
The composition of players in these two Pacific Island teams was very good…comprised of professional and armateurs.
The scores coming out of the competition say it all with the huge disparity we see in them.
All in all PNG will be a sports country to be reckoned with and I am doing my best smartly and working hard to realising PNG’s long-term success in rugby as well as sports in general.