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Costigan, Neville |
  Neville COSTIGAN [Player Stats] + Submit additional information or a correction to this player 
Kumuls can shock big guns: Costigan Wed October 15, 2008 by Retread Source: www.thenational.com.pg A phone call from Adrian Lam finally convinced former Queensland Origin enforcer Neville Costigan to make himself available for PNG's Rugby League World Cup campaign. But Costigan would have been forgiven for having second thoughts during the Kumuls' World Cup selection trial - PNG's answer to State of Origin. Playing for Queensland was tough, but it seems nothing prepared Costigan for Sunday's 'Origin' clash at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby. "Boy it was tough. They are big boys with big hearts and put their bodies on the line," Costigan said. "And it was like playing on dirt. It was hot too. It felt like 50 degrees." Costigan may have needed some convincing by Lam to put his hand up for his homeland after reportedly knocking back an offer last year. But the bruising selection trial and Lam's leadership have convinced the former Maroons hitman that the Kumuls will "shock" the World Cup big guns - starting with England at steamy Townsville on October 25. "Adrian Lam is a big part of why I am playing for PNG," Costigan said. "He rang me up and asked me to play. I hadn't really thought about it before but he got me thinking about how special it would be. "And he has fired the boys up after (the PNG selection trial). "Now we can't wait for the World Cup to start so that we can rip into them. "Lam is a real big factor in this squad." England yesterday flew out for Australia in business class armed only with sessions in "acclimatisation chambers" at a Leeds university in preparation for their Townsville tournament opener. In contrast, the PNG World Cup squad were nursing wounds from a match that they believed bettered any of a cashed-up England's meticulous preparations. "These boys will go all day in the heat. That's why we think we can beat England," Costigan said. "We want to make the semi-finals so we need a good start. That means beating England." PNG are in the "group of death" alongside Australia, England and New Zealand. Three nations qualify for the semis from the "super group" - but PNG is not expected to be one of them. "We are definitely underrated but it is probably a good thing for us," Costigan said. "The big guns are probably thinking 'oh, it's only PNG' but we will definitely give them a shock. "We've decided the draw is only going to be good for us - it will bring the best out of us." Salford utility John Wilshire will captain a Kumuls squad featuring 11 overseas-based players. They arrive at their Cairns base on Thursday. Source: www.thenational.com.pg Costigan raring to rep PNG Thu October 9, 2008 by David Kapi Source: www.thenational.com.pg Former Maroons and Canberra Raiders forward Neville Costigan is set to don the coveted PNG Telikom Kumuls jumper in the Rugby League World Cup opener against England at the Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville, Australia, on Oct 25. The St George-Illawara-bound back rower arrived yesterday afternoon and got straight into business, a training run in the company of the other 36 Kumuls aspirants at the Lloyd Robson Oval yesterday. The Rabaul-born former Maroons hit-man will spearhead a host of stars in the PNG Internationals (Yellows) side including Makali Aizue, Stanley Gene and John Wilshere from Super League in Britain as well as NRL players' assault against the local talents from the SP Cup competition, making up the PNG Residents (Reds). This is the second year running for the recently introduced one-off trial match, which has been set as an avenue to select the Kumuls for international commitments. Costigan had previously declined to play for PNG when requested, sparking a public uproar. But he has now had a change of heart and agreed to represent PNG. Kumuls coach Adrian Lam maintains that Costigan is a world class player and PNG needs the services of players like him in the World Cup campaign against the superpowers of the game - Australia, New Zealand and England. "I am a very big supporter of Costigan. He is obviously a world class player and has huge experience in big games like the State of Origin in the Maroons jersey and his contribution to the Kumuls World Cup campaign would be invaluable," Lam told The National last night. Lam said that Costigan, a highly rated player in the NRL, was a huge boost to the PNG "Origin concept" and that it was his (Lam's) great chance to pick the best team to represent PNG. Both Reds and the Yellows will train under Lam until tomorrow and the wrestle for the Kumuls jumper is set for Sunday at the Lloyd Robson Oval. The 24-man Kumuls squad will be chosen from the match for the World Cup campaign in Australia in two weeks time. Source: www.thenational.com.pg
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