PM Marape thanks David Mead for his contribution to PNG Rugby League
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended Papua New Guinea Kumuls’ retiring skipper David Mead for an outstanding game as the national rugby league team beat Fiji 24-14 at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday night (June 25 2022).
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| PM Marape thanks David Mead for his contribution to PNG Rugby League [Photo: David Mead/PNG Kumuls Media] |
He said the way the Kumuls had united the nation on Saturday night had strong overtones of putting national interests ahead of parochial and self interests, especially with the 2022 General Election currently underway.
"The Kumuls brought PNG together as one nation, one country, one people," he said.
"Like the Kumuls, we should vote for the national interest, ahead of money or a plate of food for the greater good of PNG.
“David Mead has done all of PNG proud.
“The nation watched, spellbound with PNG clinging to a 12-10 lead, as he backed up Lachlan Lam for an emotional try in his final game.
“We celebrated as one country, one nation, one people as Mead that unforgettable try,
“It was a fitting finale and the perfect sendoff for a proud PNG son who has worn the red, black and gold for 15 Test matches since 2008 and was our captain for the 2017 World Cup.
“I thank David Mead for his contribution to PNG rugby league, wish him well in his future endeavors and assure him that he has inspired a whole generation of future Kumuls.”
PM Marape also commended all the Kumuls and new coach Stanley Tepend as PNG prepares for the 2022 World Cup in England from October to November this year, and with the country making a bid for the prestigious Australian National Rugby League (NRL).
“You were all our heroes with outstanding performances by man-of-the-match Lam who follows in the footsteps of his father Adrian Lam, PNG’s homegrown Melbourne Storm superstar Justin Olam and Test debutant McKenzie Yei,” he said.
“You formed a brickwall defence in the face of an unrelenting Fijian attack. I salute the Fijians for a very good game.
“Congratulations also to new Kumuls’ coach Stanley Tepend and I wish him many more wins for PNG into the future.
“The performance by our boys makes me very confident as we prepare for the 2022 World Cup and as we bid for inclusion in the NRL.
“I am leading the way to ask the NRL to include PNG in its competition.
“My Government has appointed an NRL Bid Board, who are working towards a 2025 NRL License for the 18th team in the competition.
“The performance by the PNG Kumuls against Fiji, in front of a largely Australian audience, shows that we have what it takes to be in the prestigious NRL competition.”
Statement
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