Kumuls look to Bennett

PNG may 

BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett has emerged as a possible replacement PNG Kumul coach for the 2017 World Cup in a move that would be bittersweet for PNG after accusations Australia had poached their mentor without consultation.

While the Kumul position is up for grabs, it will be the major agenda in next month’s PNGRFL board meeting in Port Moresby. PNGRFL chief executive officer Bob Cutmore downplayed the PNG Kumul coaching saga; his personal preference is for PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum to fill the role for the Pacific Test, with Bennett to act as a mentor to Marum as he did for New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney at the 2008 World Cup. 

Cutmore told PNG media yesterday that he was instructed by PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka not to make any comment about Mal Meninga’s new role as the Australian coach.

 “I am sorry I cannot comment until such time for the chairman to make an official media release,” Cutmore said. 

When contacted yesterday, Tsaka confirmed that he was expected to make an official statement today for the good of the rugby league public.

Meninga’s announcement sparked frustration in PNG, where it was rumoured that he was being paid up to $500,000 as Test coach and performance director — although it has also been reported that he was owed money.

Despite being contracted to coach the Kumuls until after the World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and PNG, Meninga last week also announced his resignation from the Queensland job to take charge of the Kangaroos on a three year deal worth $300,000 per season.

Bennett appears to be a genuine long-term option after expressing interest in coaching another nation at the World Cup following the ARL Commission’s decision to overlook him for Meninga as the Australian coach.

Cutmore told the Sydney Morning Herald that his organisation (PNGRFL) had not been officially advised that Meninga was stepping down from the job until last Sunday.

“It seems that everyone just treats PNG as an afterthought but that is done now and it has all been fixed,” Cutmore said. 

“Mal contacted us last Sunday and hopefully we can move forward from here.”

Cutmore said he had helped to organise for Marum to spend time at the Broncos learning the ropes from the seven-time premiership winning mentor.

The PNGRFL chief executive officer has a relationship with Bennett as he has been involved with Brisbane since the club’s formative years and was chief operating officer of Broncos Leagues Club until taking on the PNGRL chief executive’s job in October. The National/PNG Today