From The Vault Benjamin John in NSW side Post Courier July 16 , 2010 By ALFRED KANINIBA PNG rugby league export, Benjamin John has been picked to represent News South Wales 2 country team in a State of Origin match against Queensland Country on July 24 at Roma in Queensland. Benji as he is called by his team-mates, was picked after outstanding performance in the Group 11 rugby league competition in country NSW. In their recent tier 2 grand final played at Parkes on Saturday June 27, Group 20 piped Group 11 scoring a try in the dying minutes winning 40 36. Despite the narrow loss the Group 11 team grabbed some consolation with selection of Four players in the NSW team, Forbes halfback Adam Hall, second-rower Pat Rosser and his Parkes team-mates, hooker Benjamin John and Dennis Moran (Country 1). Paul Clyburn recruitment manager for Parkes Rugby League club couldnt be happier to see one of his star recruits breaking into the New South Wales 2 Country team. Benji is an asset and a real good bloke, he is an ambassador for Papua New Guinea Rugby League.Clyburn stated in phone interview. He has been a standout for us (Parkes Spacemen) at hook and scoring a lot of tries and setting up many more. His ability gained him selection in the Group 11 representative team. We hope that through guys like Benjamin and his manager Jims Rekisa (Blackboss exports) we can build strong relationship with Papua New Guinea and have more talented players come through (Parkes) Clyburn said. For this Kompiam man, it will be a proud moment for him, who just last year was overlooked by Kumul coach Adrian Lam and selectors for the Pacific Cup and other lead up test matches for Papua New Guinea Kumuls. Despite being one of the very few standout players in the SP Inter-City Cup now the bemobile cup, in the last few years, it was the likes of Charlie Wabo and Paul Aiton who were considered first picks. Benjamin tried his hand at rugby union sevens and found himself selected for World Sevens Circuit playing for PNG under Sevens guru Waisalei Serevi and assistant Willie Rikis. This experience gave him the opportunity to gain much needed exposure and confidence in his natural game adding a bit of flamboyance in his game. The offer for trial in Sydney came early this year (through discussions with Clyburn and Rekisa ) and before the local Intercity competition started this young man from Kompiam in Enga Province decided it was time to give it a real go. He packed his bag and off he went, The rest now is history. Opportunity awaits Benjamin and with this Selection can mean only good things down the road. Every kids dream in PNG is to play in the NRL and to play in a State of Origin match, thats really something a few elite players can boast of. Johns career on track and he has now made selectors take note of his achievements in the last 6 months. He has learnt from his past mistakes and states God had helped me to achieve small goals I set out. I thank him for the opportunities and for my family and friends in PNG for their support. I will make the most of this chance and Thank Parkes Rugby League and in particular Paul (Clyburn) and Jims (Rekisa) for making this possible. The first Engan rugby league export to Australia was the short and stockily built Elias Paiyo a nuggetty half back who trialed with the Canterbury Bulldongs before playing of one of the NRL feeder clubs. Benjii Johns
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 06:45:04 +0000
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