Intensity is what Kumuls need to show in the world cup

PENRITH Panthers hooker James Segeyaro and English Super League’s Paul Aiton were yesterday in doubt for Sunday’s Kumuls Red and Gold trial in Port Moresby.

Kumuls manager Matt Natusch was still unsure whether the duo would be available for this crucial match, citing injury rehabilitation concerns, among other reasons.

He said Aiton, was “ready to go” but he did not know whether his club’s medical team would clear him.

Segeyaro has been playing some classy football as hooker.

The son of former Kumuls five-eighth Iffysoe, James has been used off the bench with captain Kevin Kingston, getting the starts.

Newcastle Knight Neville Costigan, with Jason Chan and Menzie Yere in England are among those exempted from the Kokopo match.

Those injured like Cowboy Ray Thompson and Titan David Mead are being monitored on whether they can be  fit by the World Cup.

So what better match for a solid Kumuls hit-out than against Australia, boasting an abundance in playing stocks. 

Kumuls coach Adrian Lam want his players tested against such a high class opponents.

Sunday’s match, a selection trial for Kokopo, is so hard to call – whether it will have a similar intensity, even if it’s some grades lower – as an Australian State of Origin battle.

For homegrown Digicel Cup players, the absence of overseas  players doubles their chances of selection.

Players from the Red and Gold teams have been training together since Wednesday but move into separate groups today.

But how do you get them to ‘hate’ their opponents enough to smash them on Sunday to gain one of the limited Kumuls spots.

Even a well-paid sports psychologists would be scratching their heads for the appropriate solutions to motivate players into ‘hate’ mode to get that kind of atmosphere.