Rugby League in Papua New Guinea needs more improvement

Congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Kumuls for wining the South Pacific SP Cup final against a strong and very determined Cook Islands. I had to wake up in the middle of the night (1am) to watch the game live played in Port Moresby at three o'clock.

Though the PNG Kumuls put up a classic display of raw talent and skills against Cook Islands, I still think that they needed to concentrate more on ball handling and defense skills. I would like to think that if the PNG Kumuls are to match and play against the toughest in the business, they needed to look closely into these two areas.

If the Papua New Guinea's bid to the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is successful, these two areas are a top priority for a coach to work with the team. Without a strong defense and good ball control tactics, Papua New Guinea most likely will loose most of it's games. An advance preparation is paramount for a better battle.

Perhaps, the new sports minister would want to concentrate on committing more funds to rugby league in the country and junior development at all schools throughout the country. At the same time, convert Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) grounds to a stadium for international matches because PRL doesn't look ideal for big tournaments against big rugby league nations like Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and others.

Go Kumuls!