Returning stars and young talent to boost Kumuls stocks
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Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou is excited about the return of big name stars Alex Johnston and Edwin Ipape as well as the chance to blood emerging talent like Cooper Bai and Dudley Dotoi during the Pacific Championships.
With an eye to the World Cup in 2026, Demetriou believes the task of selecting a Kumuls squad is going to be harder than ever as the pool of players continues to grow with the announcement of a PNG team in the NRL.
As hosts of the 2025 Pacific Bowl, Papua New Guinea will play Cook Islands on October 18 and Fiji on November 1, while the Aitu and Bati meet on October 25, with all games at Santos Stadium.
The Kumuls won last year’s Pacific Bowl and trailed New Zealand 12-6 until just before halftime in their play-off for promotion to the 2025 Pacific Cup.
“We are in a good place off the back of what we started to build last year and we have some pretty senior players coming back into the squad who missed out last year through injury,” Demetriou said.
“Guys like Epel Kapinias, Edwin Ipape and Zac Laybutt come into the side and Alex Johnston should be back this year after he missed last year through injury, which will be a huge plus for us with his experience.
“I know how eager he will be to get in and play with the team from what he did last year. He came over and met the boys in camp because he enjoyed being in camp and representing the Kumuls so off the back of him extending his contract at the Bunnies it will be good to get him back.”
In the absence of the big names, the likes of Morea Morea and Robert Mathias debuted for the Kumuls during the 2024 Pacific Championships and Demetriou said more young stars were likely to get their chance this year.
Junior Kumuls representatives Cooper Bai and Sam Stephenson are at the Gold Coast Titans, while Jared Horne and Phillip Coates play for Brisbane Broncos.
Another to have caught Demetriou's eye is Dotoi, who represented the PNG PM's XIII last year and has scored 31 tries in 29 games for Townsville Blackhawks, including 20 tries in 16 games this season.
Dudley Dotoi highlights
“There is going to be a lot of competition for places and it is going to be a tough squad to pick,” Demetriou said.
“It will be a very different side to the side that played last year but also a side that’s got more experience and there’s a fair bit of depth with what guys like Robert Mathias did for us last year.
“Cooper Bai is playing really well in the Queensland Cup at the moment and there are a few young guys at NRL clubs who are banging on the door to represent the Kumuls, as well, so it is an exciting time leading into the World Cup.”
Demetriou has been impressed by the recent form of forward Jacob Alick-Wiencke for the Titans, while he said many of the PNG players in the Super League had been performing strongly.
“Jeremiah Simbiken went over there this year after his stint with the Dolphins and Norths Devils, and he has had a great season and has been playing some really good footy for Castleford,” Demetriou said.
“Lachlan Lam is probably in career best form for Leigh and Edwin Ipape is arguably the best No.9 over there.
“We missed him last year because he had shoulder surgery and Kapinias had a knee reconstruction so fingers crossed that we get some of those guys back this year and on the back of what the guys did last year they will be coming in excited.
“I’ve touched base with quite a few of them and they are excited for the Pac Champs. It is the 50th anniversary of Independence this year and there is a lot of excitement, so it is a good time to play footy in PNG.”
