by Sylvester Gawi – EM TV, Lae
Papua New Guinea’s passion for rugby league was truly shown in yesterday’s test match, as the Kumuls defeated the Mate Ma’a Tonga 32 points to 18 in Lae.
The supporters and everyone who turned up at the game were satisfied with the result, as the Kumuls outplayed a fancied NRL-Tongan outfit.
Despite the hefty gate fee, many supporters managed to get a glimpse of their favourite PNG stars including Garry Lo and Willie Minoga and several others.
Thousands of people waited outside the Lae Rugby League ground trying to make their way in as early as 7am.
A hefty gate fee of K25 was not a big deal for many, as men, women and children waited their turn to walk through the gates.
Local rugby league star Garry Lo was the man of the moment for the Kumuls. He did a few line breaks and scored two tries to be named man of the match.
A soft-spoken Garry was awarded the highest try scorer in the 2014 Intrust Super Cup in Queensland.
Commitment, hard work and discipline both on and off the field have paid off well for the young Western Highlander.
Garry Lo is definitely a PNG superstar and a crowd favourite, with his rampaging tackles and aggressive runs.
Papua New Guineans have strong passion and love for rugby league, dubbing it the greatest game of all.
Likewise, thousands who follow every rugby league star in Australia, England or PNG are glued to their TV screen every time a game is on.
For coach Mal Meninga, the PNG Kumuls this year have improved a lot, especially with experience gained from the Intrust Super Cup.
Many other local rugby league stars such as Willie Minoga, Thompson Teteh, Adex Wera and Wartovo Puara were also on hand to deliver a sweet victory for the nation.
An NRL contract in Australia is promising for many of these young PNG players; even other clubs in England will be banking on our talent.
