Kumuls new coach named ...with a handy assistant to help out in RLWC

[The Partisan]

https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/05/13/stanley-tepend-named-as-new-kumuls-coach/

Hopefully the change of coach five months out doesn't impact the team.   NRL premiership winning coach in the new coach corner.  

 

 

 

[UTK]

1 hour ago, The Partisan said:

https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/05/13/stanley-tepend-named-as-new-kumuls-coach/

Hopefully the change of coach five months out doesn't impact the team.   NRL premiership winning coach in the new coach corner.  

 

 

 

Having the existing assistant take over should help lessen the loss of Marum, think a lot of people in PNG will be happy with this - seemed to have been a fair bit of resistance to the idea of an Australian head coach taking over the Kumuls in the wake of Matt Church's lack of success with the Hunters.

[The Rocket]

Nice sponsorship announcement in there as well.

Digicel PNG is pleased to officially announce its sponsorship of the country’s National Rugby League Teams, the PNG Kumuls men’s team and the PNG Orchids women’s team.

Our commitment to PNG’s national sport is our commitment to the people of Papua New Guinea and I am proud to announce that Digicel PNG will sponsor over K6 million in the next 3 years as part of our platinum sponsorship for both our National Rugby League teams and flag bearers, the PNG Kumuls and PNG Orchids, respectively.

That`s about $2.5 million Australian or 1.5m pound over three years.

Digicel announce sponsorship of PNG Orchids and Kumuls - Asia Pacific Rugby League (asiapacificrl.com)

 

 

[Damien]

That's sounds like a fantastic sponsorship deal for PNG. Great news.

[Scubby]

7 hours ago, The Partisan said:

https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/05/13/stanley-tepend-named-as-new-kumuls-coach/

Hopefully the change of coach five months out doesn't impact the team.   NRL premiership winning coach in the new coach corner.  

 

 

 

I like that they keep selecting home grown coaches and Flanagan will be a welcome addition to the team. In the end PNG rely on spirit and togetherness to really compete with the big boys. Saying that, they have some pretty decent players available too now compared with other World Cups.

[The Rocket]

30 minutes ago, Scubby said:

Saying that, they have some pretty decent players available too now compared with other World Cups.

They`re a real slow burn aren`t they, with the Hunters and the u`20`s now in the Qld comp, give it 2 or 3 more WC`s  and we could start to see a really strong internationally competitive PNG side, possibly WC semi-final material.

[Scubby]

43 minutes ago, The Rocket said:

They`re a real slow burn aren`t they, with the Hunters and the u`20`s now in the Qld comp, give it 2 or 3 more WC`s  and we could start to see a really strong internationally competitive PNG side, possibly WC semi-final material.

The thing they are missing, a bit like Warrington, is some real big units up front. But yes agree and hopefully that will come.

[Jughead]

The current crop and recent crops at the Hunters hasn’t been the best. They’ve gone from 6th, 2nd, 4th and 1st (and Premiers) to recent finishes of 7th, 13th and 10th and they’re currently 11th in the Q Cup.

Hopefully they’ll get hold of NRL players too but success might just be getting out of the group stage at this tournament. 

[UTK]

3 hours ago, Jughead said:

The current crop and recent crops at the Hunters hasn’t been the best. They’ve gone from 6th, 2nd, 4th and 1st (and Premiers) to recent finishes of 7th, 13th and 10th and they’re currently 11th in the Q Cup.

Hopefully they’ll get hold of NRL players too but success might just be getting out of the group stage at this tournament. 

It's a fair point about recent Hunters seasons but I'd say there's only likely to be 3-5 current Hunters max in the best 17 come the WC. 

Should be a touch stronger than their 2019 GB squad, with the likes of Nene Macdonald, Xavier Coates, James Segeyaro and Jack De Belin coming into the fray for one reason or another. Olam coming off a team of the year inclusion while Johnston topped the tryscoring charts as well.

De Belin could be the most important inclusion IMO, they've lacked top-grade middle forward experience forever and he's played quite well since his return to the NRL, also frees up Rhys Martin to play bigger minutes on the edge.

In saying that, the Cook Islands are a very slept on dark horse so they will need to be on their game to make it out of the group.

[Jughead]

33 minutes ago, UTK said:

It's a fair point about recent Hunters seasons but I'd say there's only likely to be 3-5 current Hunters max in the best 17 come the WC. 

Should be a touch stronger than their 2019 GB squad, with the likes of Nene Macdonald, Xavier Coates, James Segeyaro and Jack De Belin coming into the fray for one reason or another. Olam coming off a team of the year inclusion while Johnston topped the tryscoring charts as well.

De Belin could be the most important inclusion IMO, they've lacked top-grade middle forward experience forever and he's played quite well since his return to the NRL, also frees up Rhys Martin to play bigger minutes on the edge.

In saying that, the Cook Islands are a very slept on dark horse so they will need to be on their game to make it out of the group.

The Cook Island potential was also why I was a factor in what I was saying. The PNG v Cook Islands game could be very, very good. 

[Anita Bath]

9 hours ago, Jughead said:

The current crop and recent crops at the Hunters hasn’t been the best. They’ve gone from 6th, 2nd, 4th and 1st (and Premiers) to recent finishes of 7th, 13th and 10th and they’re currently 11th in the Q Cup.

Hopefully they’ll get hold of NRL players too but success might just be getting out of the group stage at this tournament. 

Bear in mind hunters have been based in Queensland for the last two seasons with a limited squad that they cannot add to easily when injuries and dips in form kick in. They are always a decent team to watch, look to be well coached but dont have the depth of the other teams, and in effect play all their games away. Havent played in PNG since 2019.

 

[Waghi Tumbe]

It was always going to be Tepend imo. He has been assistant coach for the Kumuls for the past 6 years, and is the most successful coach in our national domestic competition's history. Olam, Albert, Ipape and many of the Hunters players all begun their careers with him, so choosing him was always the safest option. 

Happy that Flanagan is onboard. His experience and class will be vital, especially if we wish to make the semis for the first time. 

I know the Kumuls are a different beast when they're not playing at home. But this time I think 2 years of not playing in PNG for the Hunters, may actually push things in their favour.