PNG's Rodney Pora to join WHITEHAVENS after PNG-South Sydney clash

PNG's forward. Rodny Pora

New recruit Rodney Pora is expected to join his Haven team-mates later this month after he was named in the Papua New Guinea side to face top Aussie outfit South Sydney today. The prop will start the clash at Redfern Oval, when he will line up against some of Souths’ top talent, as PNG launch their countdown to the World Cup in the autumn.“We still plan to bring him here, and he is desperate to come,” said Haven chief executive Barry Richardson. “But it was also important we signed Seb Martins, so when Rodney arrives we will have two really big new forwards in the squad.”Souths have named a squad of 18 for their opening pre-season clash, in which Pora will face Yorkshireman George Burgess in the front-row.

PNG coach Adrian Lam, the ex-Wigan half-back, expects NRL scouts to flock to Redfern for the match.

“From what I’ve heard there will be about six clubs with recruitment officers here,” Lam said. “I don’t know why clubs haven't concentrated on Papua New Guinea more.

“They’ve become very familiar with the Pacific islands, but no-one from PNG really gets picked-up unless they come to school in Australia first.”

The Kumuls will be skippered by loose-forward Glen Nami, who reportedly signed for Haven 12 months ago, only then to fail to contact the club.

Haven’s PNG centre Jessie Joe Parker is an international regular though is not involved for his country this weekend. News & Star