Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou has vowed to ensure captain Rhyse Martin brings down the curtain on his highly decorated career with a successful World Cup campaign.
Martin, 33, will start the next chapter of his professional life by taking up a post as the PNG Chiefs’ football operations manager next year.
However, with less than 50 days to go until the Kumuls opening match against Lebanon on October 17 at Santos National Stadium, Demetriou said there was no question of PNG's most capped player retiring when his Super League commitments with Hull KR end.
Rhyse Martin Try
“He’s playing - he’ll lead the team as he’s done for many years. I’ve spoken to Rhyse the last several weeks about how excited he is" said Demetriou, who is coaching London Broncos.
“We’ve got to submit a squad at the back end of August of 40 players but it’s not until the back end of September where we’ve got to cut it down to 23."
Proudly connected to Hula in Central Province through his father, Martin is one the most respected rugby league figures in Papua New Guinea after forging a successful career in the NRL and Super League
The goalkicking backrower made his international debut for PNG in 2014 and remains the all-time leading point scorer for the Kumuls, scoring 248 points in 20 Test appearances.
He also hold the world record for most consecutive goals after landing 41 kicks without miss while playing for Leeds Rhinos and was a key figure in Hull KR's success last year.
Martin will join Hull KR coach Willie Peters at the Chiefs next season in a non-playing role.
“It’s a big move for him because not only is he going to finish his year off playing for the Kumuls but he’ll be transitioning into a new job at the end of his career in Papua New Guinea as well," Demetriou said.
“I think there’lll be some excitement about that for him but most importantly it’s about making sure he finishes on the terms that he wants to.
"As a country and as head coach of the Kumuls, we will make sure that he gets everything he can to get the goodbye he deserves because he’s been a great servant for Papua New Guinea in a lot of ways for a long period of time.”
The Kumuls play their opening two matches against Lebanon on October 17 and Samoa on October 24 at Santos National Stadium in Port Moresby, before travelling to Wollongong to meet England on October 30.
Demetriou has selection hopefuls Finley Glare, Epel Kapinias, Robert Mathias, Alex Max, Morea Morea, Jeremiah Simbiken and Gairo Voro with him in London this season. They take on Widnes in the 1895 Cup final at Halliwell Jones Stadium on Monday.
“I’m starting to get excited about the potential for that squad but I don’t like to think about it too much,” Demetriou said.
Match: Papua New Guinea v Lebanon
Round 1 -
home Team
Papua New Guinea
away Team
Lebanon
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
“It’s more about crossing fingers and toes that the guys get through the season playing good footy and healthy and cone into camp healthy.
“Even sides we might be playing against … Adam Doueihi (Lebanon) has been ruled out and potentially Payne Haas (Samoa) so those types of things happen every week.
“For me now the main thing is keeping an eye on our boys and hoping they stay healthy.
Match: Papua New Guinea v Samoa
Round 2 -
home Team
Papua New Guinea
away Team
Samoa
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
“I’m not going to talk about naming my time now. There’s no reason to talk about that now. It’s a long way off.
“As I say to the players, keep playing your footy and be in good form and selection will take care of itself.”
Match: England v Papua New Guinea
Round 3 -
home Team
England
away Team
Papua New Guinea
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
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