QLD PNG Kokomos make final preparations for Lae PBE NINES tournament

QLD PNG Kokomos make final preparation for Lae
PBE Nines tournament. Photo source. Owen Saria

This afternoon the QLD PNG Kokomos Nines playing squad finalised their preparations for the Lae PBE Nines tournament to be held this weekend. The squad were put through their paces by Head Coach and former Kumul, Elias Paiyo.

Paiyo is an experienced Nines campaigner, having captained the PNG Kumuls in 1996 in the World Cup Super Nines. They finished as the runners-up for the tournament, being beaten by New Zealand in Fiji.

The squad has been beset by several player changes due to injuries, but Paiyo believes that his current QLD PNG Kokomos Nines line up has what it takes to contest this weekend’s tournament.
The Kokomos Nines are: Steve Franciscus (Captain), Richard Tengdui, Alex Ambia, Shaun Wickham, Germaine Kaskol, Harry Lohia, Ojay Moka, Chris Aiton, Solomon Dawanincura, Francis Han, Joe Seeto, Anthony Seeto and Richard Pandia.

The team heads to Lae on Thursday ahead of the PBE Nines Tournament launch on Saturday.

The team were presented with their playing strip by Ryan Endehipa, from Struddy’s, who with Hornibrook NGI, have sponsored the Kokomos in their first foray into PNG Rugby League.
The QLD PNG Kokomos was established in 2011 to develop, mentor and up-skill the next generation of QLD based, Papua New Guinean rugby league talent.