Kumuls fullback Edene Gebbie attracting interest from NRL clubs

Papua New Guinea has long boasted raw rugby league talent but few Kumuls have made it to the top level. That’s all changing now with the likes of Edene Gebbie striving to earn an NRL contract.

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There’s a story Rhyse Martin likes to tell about a former Papua New Guinea teammate of his, a fella named Willie Minoga who came from Enga Province up in the Highlands.

Minoga was playing footy in his village and caught the kick off. He ran it straight back – and when we say straight we mean dead straight, because in some parts of PNG the man who sidesteps is no man at all.

“This guy didn’t even try to tackle him, he just elbowed him. Knocked him clean out,” Martin said.

“He said ‘what’d you do that for’ and they go ‘he was running at me and he was going to kill me, so I killed him first.’”

Papua New Guinea can be a hard place that produces hard men but in the land where they speak 832 different languages rugby league is the common tongue

They play for the Goroka Lahanis, the Kimbe Cutters, the Agmark Gurias, the Mendi Muruks and the Hela Wigmen but the best come to Port Moresby, where they play for the PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup competition.

Gebbie has been on fire this season. AAP Image/Richard Walker.

If they perform well there, the world can open up.

Justin Olam, a Sinesine man, has already cracked the NRL. A host of other players, including Minoga, have secured contracts overseas.

The next man on the production line may well be hard-running fullback Edene Gebbie, who makes his Kumuls debut in Saturday’s clash with Samoa.

Gebbie earned his stripes with the Dobo Warriors before joining the Hunters, where he won rookie of the year last season.

A hard-running fullback with a great turn of pace and a willingness to try the unorthodox, Gebbie also boasts a shotgun-like fend that’s left plenty of would-be tacklers battered and bruised.

He was snapped up by Wynnum-Manly, where he currently leads the Queensland Cup in tackle busts, total runs, run metres and kick returns.

“I played PM’s XII with Edene last year and he’s outstanding,” Martin said.

“He’s been killing the Q Cup this year, he’s lightning quick with really good ball skills and vision, he’s not scared to throw the ball and play what he sees.

“I can’t wait to play with him.”

Gebbie will make his PNG debut on Saturday. AAP Image/Richard Walker.

A regular in the competition’s team of the week, NRL clubs are reportedly sniffing around Gebbie and a big performance against Samoa could stamp his ticket to the big leagues.

“He’s been one of the best players going around in the State Cup this year. Everyone I talk to say he’s lighting it up,” said captain James Segeyaro.

“The more players that get exposed like that, the more Test matches we get, there are players at the Hunters who haven’t been exposed and they get opportunities.”

The Hunters joined the Queensland Cup in 2014 and their impact on PNG rugby league cannot be overstated.

By providing a consistent and reliable pathway to top level football, the Hunters are harnessing the raw rugby league talent that exists all across the country.

Edene Gebbie in the Intrust Cuper Cup rugby game between Wynnum Manly Seagulls and Redcliffe Dolphins, Sunday, March 24, 2019 (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

Segeyaro, who first played for the Kumuls in 2011, said he can feel the difference whenever he comes into camp.

“The Papua New Guinea players have gone up a stature since then (my debut) in terms of professionalism because of the week-in, week-out competition of the State Cup.

“The Hunters aren’t doing as well this year because so many of their players are ending up at NRL clubs and other overseas teams, they’re taking opportunities and making a living, not only for themselves but for their families.”

PNG will blood seven debutants on Saturday in part because some of the mainstays of the team - such as Minoga, Watson Boas, Stargroth Amean, Wartovo Puara Jr, Thompson Teteh and Wellington Albert - have taken up deals overseas.