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Demetriou’s appointment a crucial step in PNG’s NRL bid

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Papua New Guinea rugby league bosses believe hiring Jason Demetriou as coach of the national team is a “really positive” step on the path to inclusion in the NRL.

Demetriou will take charge of the Kumuls for the Pacific Championships in October, his first coaching job since being axed as South Sydney’s head coach in April.

The appointment comes as an Australian government-backed bid from Papua New Guinea firms as the likeliest candidate for the NRL’s 19th license, set to be granted in 2028.

“Everything we are doing is in preparation for becoming an NRL team and we believe Jason’s appointment is another really positive step towards that goal,” said PNG NRL bid chief executive, Andrew Hill.

“Having someone of Jason’s standing in the game take on the Kumuls head coaching role is another great step towards becoming part of the NRL.”

Off the side headshot of Rabbitohs head coach, Jason Demetriou. Wide-eyed Caucasian man with brown hair and stubby nose.
Rabbitohs head coach, Jason Demetriou speaks to media during the post match press conference following the NRL Round 3 match between the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)

Demetriou could remain in charge for the 2026 World Cup, by which time the prospective franchise’s preparations for entry into the NRL would be in full swing.

“We are interested in building a long-term relationship with Jason leading up to the 2026 RLWC and have been in talks with Jason and are looking forward to finalizing this soon,” said PNGRFL chief executive Stanley Hondina.

Souths fired Demetriou following a 1-6 start to the 2024 season and the side’s capitulation from finals contention the previous year, when they had led the premiership through 11 rounds.

The 48-year-old’s coaching tenure became dogged by suggestions he struggled to manage the bigger personalities on the roster, tensions which contributed to club legend Sam Burgess’ abrupt exit from the coaching staff in 2023.

Demetriou had previously been Wayne Bennett’s protege at Brisbane and then Souths, taking over from the master coach in 2022 and leading the Rabbitohs to a preliminary final that year.

He has also held assistant coaching roles at St George Illawarra and North Queensland, including during the Cowboys’ drought-breaking 2015 premiership season.

As a player, he spent his entire career in the United Kingdom. He is currently working as a commentator for radio station Triple M.

Demetriou noted he was “excited about what lies ahead” with Papua New Guinea, who count Justin Olam, Alex Johnston and Jack de Belin among their NRL talents.

“The game in PNG is going from strength to strength and it is a fantastic opportunity to work with such a talented squad,” said Demetriou.

“I have watched the team with interest in recent years and they have a passion for the game that shows itself every time they pull on the Kumuls jersey and represent their country.

“I know that a tremendous amount of work is being done at school and academy level to help prepare the next generation of players and I’m incredibly excited to be able to work off the back of that with the senior team.

“It is a great time to be involved in the game in this country.”

Written by: Jasper Bruce_AAP ©

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Panthers insist hunger remains despite Cleary doubts

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Penrith Panthers players insist their desire for a fourth consecutive premiership has not waned despite suggestions from coach Ivan Cleary the Panthers are lacking hunger on the run to NRL finals.

Saturday’s surprise 22-18 loss to Canberra marked Penrith’s first back-to-back defeats since April last year, the Panthers struggling for cohesion without injured halfback Nathan Cleary.

The timing of the slump is unfortunate for the triple reigning premiers, who now sit fourth on the ladder – lower than at any point in the second half of a season since 2019.

Penrith are at serious risk of forfeiting the top-two finish that appeared a formality only a fortnight ago. With another loss, they could fall out of the top four altogether.

The elder Cleary said on Monday there was “probably a question mark” around Penrith’s desire to keep their winning ways going, but players refuted that claim on Wednesday.

“I’m not satisfied with what we did last year, I definitely want to win again this year,” said second-rower Luke Garner, who plays his 100th NRL game against South Sydney on Friday.

“The hunger is still there, I think it is with all the crew. We’ve just got to maybe change a few things and hopefully we’re on the way to being there at the end of the year again.

“We’re still a good team. We’re still in the top four. I think if we can gain some momentum in the next two games, hopefully the finals can look good for us again.”

Prop Lindsay Smith said it was “disappointing” the Panthers could not win their first game since co-captain Cleary aggravated his shoulder injury in the round-24 loss to Melbourne.

But he remained confident in their premiership credentials.

“Obviously it’s not great to ever have two losses in a row at any stage of the season, whether it’s the start of the season or the end of the season but there’s obviously learnings there,” he said.

“People will be externally questioning our belief but I think internally we’ve got all the belief in the squad that we’ve got.”

The Panthers have made three changes for their penultimate match of the regular season, welcoming Mitch Kenny back from suspension to replace Luke Sommerton at hooker.

Sunia Turuva returns to the right wing after two weeks working on his defence in NSW Cup, with Paul Alamoti back from a broken arm to replace rookie Casey McLean at left centre.

Right centre Izack Tago, below his best in recent weeks, felt Turuva’s recent axing was a wake-up call for the rest of the Panthers.

“Everyone here is a professional athlete so it’s pretty hard,” he said.

“Everyone’s pushing for a spot and it’s just the way things worked out. I’m sure Tito’s grateful to be back in. It’s well-deserved.”

Written By: Jasper Bruce_AAP ©

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Stuart: Horsburgh could still play for Raiders in NRL

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Ricky Stuart needs all hands on deck as the Raiders push for a finals spot. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

By: Jacob Shteyman (AAP)

Want-away prop Corey Horsburgh may have another chance to prove his worth at Canberra, with coach Ricky Stuart claiming the former Queensland State of Origin representative still has a job to do.

Horsburgh has this year failed to match the lofty heights of his impressive past two seasons.

The Raiders enforcer has made just two NRL appearances off the bench in an injury-disrupted 2024, with the majority of his football limited to reserve grade.

It was playing in the NSW Cup that the 26-year-old received an ignominious three-game ban for headbutting and punching Warriors forward Jacob Laban in June.

Since his return from suspension Horsburgh has remained on the outer, with Stuart preferring 23-year-old Simi Sasagi on the bench against Manly on Saturday in place of the injured Zac Hosking.

Ricky Stuart needs all hands on deck as the Raiders push for a finals spot. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Ricky Stuart needs all hands on deck as the Raiders push for a finals spot. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Horsburgh, who has been given permission to speak with other clubs despite being contracted to the Raiders until the end of the 2027 season, has been named only on the extended bench.

But Stuart said he still saw the former fan favourite playing a role in the NRL this season.

“Yeah I do. We need everybody available, fit and healthy,” he said.

The Raiders could do with reinforcements, likely needing four wins from their remaining five matches to make the finals.

Horsburgh has impressed in the NSW Cup – brawling notwithstanding – and could be a handy addition to the side after Hosking was ruled out for the season.

Hosking will undergo surgery next week after re-injuring his shoulder in the Raiders’ 22-18 loss to Canterbury on Sunday.

It was a disappointing blow for the rangy second-rower after only recently returning from a long-term injury lay-off, Stuart said.

‘He’s a new boy to the club, started the season extremely well,” he said.

“And unfortunately, the injury early in the piece to his shoulder forced him into a really long, arduous rehabilitation campaign.”

Teen five-eighth Ethan Strange comes back into the starting line-up after he was rested from the Bulldogs match.

The promising playmaker has been forced to shoulder substantially more game time than Stuart had initially planned this season, in the absence of Jamal Fogarty.

But with the experienced halfback back in the squad, Stuart felt the time was right to give Strange a much-needed breather.

“It was something that you learn as a coach from experience in regards to how a young boy feels physically and mentally, too,” he said.

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