By Scott Bailey
Jack de Belin will play for Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Championships after he was unveiled as one of several NRL players in the Kumuls squad.
Eligible for PNG given his maternal grandmother was born in the country while serving as a missionary, de Belin has long toyed with the idea of representing the country.
However he appeared to close the door on ever running out for the Kumuls last year when he admitted he would feel like a fraud playing for the nation.
“I have never been there or had any connection to the culture or the people,” de Belin said last June.
“My nan was born there. She’s not actually Papua New Guinean though, with her heritage … I’ve got no PNG blood. That’s why I feel like a bit of a fraud in a sense.
“I would love to help out and what not, but I just don’t feel like it would be right. I’d be taking away a spot from someone who is actually from PNG and deserves it.”
Jack de Belin will play for Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Championships.Credit: NRL Photos
De Belin has now changed his stance after being approached by newly-instated PNG coach Justin Holbrook, who coached de Belin in under-20s at St George Illawarra.
He will join Alex Johnston, Justin Olam and Dragons teammate Dan Russell in the Kumuls’ squad, along with former NRL talents Nene MacDonald and Lachlan Lam.
Zac Laybutt, his brother Kyle and former Canterbury forward Rhyse Martin are also included in the 21-man squad.
PNG begin their campaign in the second-tier bowl competition against Cook Islands on October 15 in Port Moresby, before facing Fiji there on October 29.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA SQUAD: Alex Johnston, Benji Kot, Dan Russell, Edwin Ipape, Epel Kapinias, Jack de Belin, Jacob Alick, Judah Rimbu, Junior Rop, Justin Olam, Kyle Laybutt, Lachlan Lam, Liam Horne, Nene Macdonald, Nixon Putt, Rhyse Martin, Robert Derby, Rodrick Tai, Valentine Richard, Wellington Albert, Zac Laybutt.
AAP
