Papua New Guinea rugby league coach Michael Marum remains hopeful that Nene MacDonald will make himself available for Kumuls selection in the future.
The 24-year-old required medical attention after an off-duty police officer allegedly threw a glass at him at a club in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The North Queensland Cowboys winger posted on Facebook after the incident that he "will never put on a PNG Kumuls jersey again" until the person who attacked him "is found and dealt with".
Photo: Facebook
Michael Marum said it was an unfortunate incident after MacDonald had played a key role in the Kumuls 32-22 victory over the England Knights earlier in the day.
"I've spoken to him so I understand how he felt after that incident so we have to give him some time and he can think through that," he said.
"Maybe he can change his mind but we're not talking about picking him for a game coming up really soon - international matches will probably be at the end of the year so hopefully we will get to change his mind."
Nene MacDonald played in the PNG Kumuls victory over the England Knights. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo
Michael Marum has often talked about the distractions available to players in Port Moresby and said he told the players to look after themselves following the match.
"Nene played a really big game in that victory and we understand there is police investigations going on at the moment," he said.
"We warned the players after the game about looking after themselves after. Nene, even though he is back in Australia ,he is ok but he was a bit upset with the incident, what happened to him there in the night so hopefully we get these people arrested."
Michael Marum said MacDonald did not mention anything about making himself unavailable for the Kumuls when he spoke with him and he was only made aware when he saw the player's Facebook post.
Marum said the former St George Illawarra Dragons flyer now has time to prepare for the 2019 NRL season with his new club and hopefully he can play well and be available for international selection next year.
PNG coach Michael Marum, (in black), takes his players through their paces Photo: PNG Rugby League
