Papua New Guinea plans to tweak its preparation for the Rugby League World Cup as a result of the proposed changes to international eligibility rules.
The PNG Prime Minister's 13, made up primarily of players from the Digicel Cup domestic competition, were thrashed 58-0 by a shadow Australian side in Port Moresby last month.
Michael Marum's Kumuls are not playing any post-season test matches this year and had planned to hold a couple of training camps with their extended squad.
PNG celebrate beating Fiji in the 2016 Pacific Test. Photo: Facebook / NRL - National Rugby League
But PNG Rugby League CEO Bob Cutmore said they might be forced to rethink.
"We've got a couple of players playing in the Super League and the NRL with PNG heritage so it will be very interesting as we sit down now and move forward towards 2017 World Cup," he said.
"We were planning a camp late December but that mightn't take place now because with the new eligibility rules a lot of the NRL players wouldn't get the time off to attend the camp.
"It would be in the middle of NRL pre-season training because we thought our emphasis would have to be on our Queensland Cup players and so forth but with the eligibility ruling that will change."
PNG Hunters and Kumuls coach Michael Marum. Photo: PNG Rugby League
Bob Cutmore has already had discussions with Michael Marum about what players could come into consideration as a result of the rule change.
"I think on our first list we had about 12 (first grade players with PNG heritage). We've got quite a few PNG heritage boys playing NRL and they might put PNG as their second choice now - gives them a chance to play in a World Cup," he said.
"It's a great change...it will probably suit Samoa, Tonga more than it will PNG but at least it gives us some opening to have a look at players.
Bob Cutmore is happy with PNG's world cup dress rehearsal. Photo: EMTV
