A season spent under the coaching of Sam Burgess has given Kumuls centre Rodrick Tai the belief that other players from Papua New Guinea can emerge and deliver the nation a competitive NRL franchise.
As momentum for a Port Moresby-based NRL side grows, Tai is coming off a breakout year with Super League club Warrington where he scored nine tries in 23 games.
But the journey of the powerful centre also highlights the challenges PNG players face to get a shot at the top level.
In a story not too dissimilar to that of Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam, Tai only began playing organised rugby league in his late teens.
Tai comes from the remote Highlands town of Mt Hagen and if he hadn’t moved to the coastal city of Lae to study applied physics he doubts he would have had much of a chance to make it as a professional.
The 25-year-old was offered a train-and-trial deal with the Dolphins after impressive performances with Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters in 2023.
But only Warrington were willing to giving Tai his first full-time deal after Burgess personally scouted the centre.
“Sam contacted the Hunters coach Paul Aiton and he offered me a deal and I just took it,” Tai told AAP.
“When Paul said Sam Burgess wanted to talk to me I couldn’t believe it … I couldn’t talk, I was just listening to him because growing up watching the NRL I’d watch him play.
“Sam is a good man, great around the blokes, he’s a tough guy who is mentally strong and the way he coaches, we respect him.
“It was my first professional rugby league (deal) so I just wanted to learn more but as time passed Sam trusted me and I was able to do some good things.”
Tai has been named for the Kumuls’ Pacific Championships Bowl clash against Fiji in Suva on Saturday.
Defeating Fiji would put PNG on course to compete in the promotion play-off.
That would potentially give the Kumuls a chance to match it with the likes of New Zealand and Australia on a regular basis.
Tai says that exposure would only strengthen PNG’s case for an NRL side at a time when the country’s grassroots investment is beginning to bear fruit.
Last week the Junior Kumuls claimed a 22-22 draw with the Australian Schoolboys.
“It (an NRL side) would be massive for young blokes like me six years ago,” Tai said.
“With the NRL bid they’re starting the junior programmes back home.
“It would be massive for the game in PNG because the boys have a huge passion for the game and it’s time we get the opportunity.”
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