Papua New Guinea is yet to get a win against the visiting Australia PM’s XIII side since the inception of the exhibition match back in around 2025. But can they make the history as alluded by Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou in Port Moresby?
The task is well understood by the current PNG Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou who said PNG could not get the result in the last edition of PMs XIII match due to few elite players who left for Fiji earlier to take part in the Pacific Championship.
“We understand the history. It’s been 50 years of Papua New Guinea, it’s very special so we want to get out there and represent with our best foot forward,” Demetriou said.
“I thought we did that in the first half last year but we just did not have the depth with the players we had to send over to Fiji early but this year we’ll be able to field a strong side.”
Demetriou said the team is preparing to flip the script and make history.
“We are preparing to come out there and try to make history and if we do the little things right early, we’ll get the crowd involved and it will give us a good chance,” Demetriou added.
The PNG side will have Gairo Voro and Finley Glare in the halves leading the attack. The two who have been part of PNG Hunters have come through the Junior Kumuls and are now given a shot to pull on the Kumuls jersey.
Moreover, the Australia PM’s side who will arrive by midday in Port Moresby today have players in the likes of Jason Saab, Nick Meaney and Bradman Best who will be gracing the National Football Stadium this Sunday.
