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Four NRL stars want to be Kumuls at World Cup

DAVID Mead, Neville Costigan, James Segeyaro and Ray Thompson have confirmed their availability for the Rugby League World Cup.
Team Kumuls general manager Matthew Natusch said the four National Rugby League stars would be picked for the tournament in England that starts on October 19.
This will be Mead and Costigan’s second World Cup. Both played for Papua New Guinea in the 2008 event in Australia.
Neither man has played for PNG since 2009. Mead, 24, had told Rugby League Week he was disillusioned with the infighting plaguing the PNG Rugby Football League’s administration in 2010 and had lost interest in representing the country of his birth. Costigan, 28, was tipped for a long Kumul career off his 2008 performance at the World Cup but had eligibility questions having opted to play State of Origin for Queensland from 2007 to 2010 (six games).  
“We’ve contacted them and they are all keen to play for PNG,” Natusch said. 
But he said all four may not play in the trial match and the Prime Minister’s XIII game on September 22 and 29 if their teams made the NRL playoffs.
Mead’s Gold Coast Titans (24 points) are in eighth spot and Costigan’s Newcastle Knights (25) in seventh are expected to see NRL finals action with three games left in the regular season. Segeyaro’s Penrith Panthers and Thompson’s North Queensland Cowboys, both on 22 points, could make the playoffs if results go their way.
“We’re looking at these four players as well as a few others in the Holden Cup (NRL junior competition) and the Queensland Cup.
“Our UK-based players are in the frame. Menzie Yere, Jessie Joe Parker, Jason Chan and Paul Aiton will be included in the World Cup squad, which will be named after the PM’s XIII match on Sept 29,” Natusch said.
He said Yere might not be able to play for the PM’s XIII as his Sheffield Eagles would be in the English second division finals. 
The National/Pacific News Flash
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