Robert Derby honoured with PNG Kumuls debut in midyear Test
Northern Pride winger Robert Derby will fulfil a dream when he pulls on the Papua New Guinea jersey for the first time when the Kumuls take on Fiji on Saturday night.
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YOU can hear the pride in Robert Derby’s voice as he speaks about his first selection for the PNG Kumuls.
Derby will fulfil a dream when he pulls on the Papua New Guinea jersey for the first time when the Kumuls take on Fiji on Saturday.
And the opportunity to represent his home, his family and his ancestors is something the winger is not taking for granted.
“It means a lot,” Derby told the Weekend Post. “Growing up in PNG, and knowing how passionate every is … it’s an honour to represent my people, my country.”
Derby’s selection was somewhat of a surprise to most, but it’s something the rising talent has had to keep close to his chest for weeks.
He has had regular direct contact with two high-ranking PNG officials in Cowboys elite pathways coach Ben Jeffries and Northern Pride under-21s coach and Hostplus Cup assistant Dave Westley throughout the past eight months.
It helped him keep on track, but a heads up that new Kumuls coach Stanley Tepend would watch the Pride’s clash with the Tweed Seagulls on May 14 was a tip that paid off.
“Wes was saying Stan was going to come and watch that game and just said to make sure I played well,” Derby said. “Stan gave me the call a bit later but I couldn’t tell anyone, not even family, for weeks.
“I’ve had at the back of my minds since the end of last year that I wanted to be playing at a high enough level to give myself a chance of achieving the goal of playing for the PNG at the World Cup later this year.
“Having a lot of the staff around – BJ (Ben Jeffries) at the Cowboys, he’s affiliated with them, and Wes as well – having that connection has helped stay on track.”
Derby was born in Port Moresby and lived in PNG until he was five, when his family moved to Vietnam, where they spent two years.
His family had a stint in Western Australia and went back to PNG before moving to Cairns to ensure Derby got a good education.
“Dad moved from job to job so we always travelled, he liked working in PNG but my parents wanted me to have a good education,” Derby said.
“I don’t think it was too bad, it was a good experience.”
Derby starred for Brothers in the Cairns District Rugby League as a 17-year-old, and it was from a starring performance for St Augustine’s College at the Confraternity Shield in 2019 that he landed a deal with the Melbourne Storm.
He moved to the Sunshine Coast to fulfil the deal when Covid put paid to those plans, and he returned to the Far North intent on finding a way to his achieve his dreams.
Linking with the Cowboys as part of their NQ Young Guns program, Derby has taken his game to another level with his powerful defence, brilliant ball-running and speed, and his willingness to put up his hand and roll up the sleeves to get his side out of trouble.
He has improved out of sight this season. Pride coach Ty Williams thought Derby would be lucky to get a handful of Hostplus Cup games for the club at the start of the year but he has become one of the most consistent players in the outfit, scoring five tries in eight games since round 4 debut against the Blackhawks.
And that experience of playing in Queensland’s premier rugby league competition has helped develop Derby into a better player.
“Each game, I feel more confident,” Derby said. “I’ve been told that when you’re a younger player, that talent is there but you need to have the confidence to compete.
“If you’re confident playing against men, the better the performances you’ll put together.
“Training with the boys at the Cowboys and in the Young Guns, it’s a lot different and a lot tougher this year under Toddy (Payten), and that’s helped me about a lot as well.”
The Pride flyer is driven by the goal of wearing either the No.2 or No.5 on his back at the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
It is the goal Derby and his management set at the end of last year, and it has sat in the back of his mind as he worked and trained off his backside to fulfil the dream.
And now, he is about to make his debut, lining up opposite the likes of Eels star Maika Sivo and Dragons wrecking ball Mikaele Ravalawa, as captain and long-serving Kumuls star David Mead plays his last game for the nation.
Derby won’t be the only Pride player in action, with front-rower Joseph Ratuvakacerivalu named to start for Fiji.
Ratuvakacerivalu joined the Pride this year and only recently returned from injury via Innisfail in the Cairns District Rugby League.
Kick-off is at 7.50pm, with the game shown live on Kayo Sports.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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Originally published as Robert Derby honoured with PNG Kumuls debut in midyear Test