Battle for Kumuls no.9 jersey heats up

The race for PNG Kumuls dummy half position is hitting up for the forthcoming Pacific Championships set to kick off this weekend in Fiji.

PNG is blessed with a pool of talented hookers led by Super League star Edwin Ipape and the current group of hookers available will give headache to Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou on who to consider for the Pacific bowl tournament.

Demetriou has not revealed the starting hooker but one player admits there is lot of depth within the position with the inclusion of Ipape, Hostplus Cup Player Of The Year Judah Rimbu and Castleford Tigers utility Liam Horne.

Rimbu, who has been Hunters shinning light this season, continues to prove why he should be considered for the no.9 jersey with his performance in the Prime Ministers XIII clash yesterday.

But, the Hostplus Cup best player is not getting ahead of himself.

"There's a battle between us. I've got a lot of respect for Edwin and Liam," he said.

"They played before me, so I've got a lot of respect for them.
"Whoever coach picks, they're representing us.

"Im really grateful to have them in the team as well."

PNG has a fair history in playing three hookers in a game and it's no surprise Demetiou could be using the trio during the campaign against Fiji in Suva this Saturday.

The Kumuls used three hookers in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup when Paul Aiton, Kurt Baptiste and James Segeyaro, all featured for the match with Ireland.

With the current batch of hookers in the squad, Demetriou would be banking on either Ipape or Rimbu as the first choice hookers, but this will be known when the team will be announced tomorrow.

PNG will kick off its bowl title defence against Fiji as the Melanesian rivalry continues.