Roltinga prepared for mammoth task in debut game
Elijah Roltinga will run out in front of a buoying crowd when he makes his debut at HFC Bank Stadium, but that is not the only challenge he will face, what’s more tough is fronting destructive Parramatta Eels flyer Maika Sivo.
Roltinga is preparing for a mammoth task against Sivo when he dons the no.2 jersey in his first representative duty for PNG Kumuls.
The Kumuls will face Fiji Bati in the first week of the Pacific Bowl Championship, and the SP Hunters center is eager to relish his Kumul dream in red, black, and gold.
“As a kid growing up my dream was to one day represent my country and put on the Kumuls jersey,” Roltinga told NBC News in an exclusive interview.
“To put on this Kumuls jersey and play for my country, is a dream come true, and it means so much to me.”
Roltinga’s incredible rise in Hunters towards the end of the Hostplus Cup competition was not a fairytale story but one that covered aspects of commitment and sheer dedication despite minimal opportunity.
Capping 15 games under his name on debut season this year, Roltinga scored 9 tries and established himself as a mainstay in Hunters finals campaign after putting on impressive performances consecutively.
“Not being in the team in the middle of the season and having not to play was a challenge for me to work hard and get back into the team,” he said of winning his spot back in Paul Aiton’s team.
Just like any other rugby league player would aim, to represent PNG at the pinnacle level in the Kumul jumper, Roltinga’s love for rugby was inspired by his father.
The Kimbe Cutters export from Digicel ExxonMobil Cup didn’t expect the Kumuls call up, considering just 15 games for Hunters, but the news came as a surprise during Prime Minister’s XIII preparations last week.
“When we went to training for the PMs XIII, coach [Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou] came to me and said;
Elijah, we'll be naming the squad for the Kumuls for the Pacific Championship, and you are in the squad too" I was really happy like more than just happy,” he shared his excitement.
“When I saw my name on the squad, I thought to myself "thank God finally my dream has come true."
Kumuls head coach Jason Demetriou would be expecting the rookie winger to stand firm against his damaging Fijian opponent, especially in front of the home fans, who will be chanting Sivo at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
And the Hunters center knows the weight on his shoulders, and he is prepared to take on whatever responsibility that would be thrown at him to make a memorial international debut.
“It's a whole new level and I'm a bit nervous but knowing that I won't be there alone…..the big boys will be standing with me too so I'm really happy and proud to put on the jersey and make my debut.
“My focus is just preparing myself by listening to the coaches and the big boys and trying to learn as much as I could to get myself ready for the game.”
The 2023 DEM Cup top point scorer is thrilled to represent his family and the country in the Pacific Championships and acknowledged Kumuls for giving him the opportunity to showcase his craft in the international stage.
“I thank God for making my dream come true and my family, friends and loved ones for their support,” Roltinga said.
“Most importantly thank the Hunters coach Paul Aiton and his coaching staff for building me to who I am now.
“I appreciate the Kimbe Cutters for the opportunity to play with the club in 2021. The exposure given has now allowed me to achieve my goals.
“l also thank the Kumuls coach for believing in me and giving me this opportunity I'm grabbing it with both hands.
“I want to dedicate this game to the people that I represent, my family, community, tribe, district, province, and my country as a whole, and to someone special [my dad], he loves rugby so much as I do so If he was here, he would be so proud watching his son playing for the country.”
