State of Origin fever is heating up in Papua New Guinea, with Kumuls rugby league star Xavier Coates cleared to make his Queensland debut this evening.
The 19 year old Brisbane Broncos winger has shrugged off a shoulder injury suffered in training at the weekend and will take his place as one of eight debutants in the Maroons matchday squad.
Xavier Coates made his test debut for PNG in 2019. Photo: Facebook/PNG Kumuls
The Port Moresby born teenager made his international debut during last year's Oceania Cup and Kumuls coach Michael Marum said the whole country will be glued to their television screens.
"Everyone's talking about Origin now," he said.
"There's a couple of flags out there in the cars and people are going to paint their faces and get their colours - whether they are Blues or Maroons - and I'm excited to see young Xavier play his first game tomorrow."
Xavier Coates is the first Papua New Guinean to play State of Origin since Neville Costigan, who made the last of his six appearances for Queensland in 2010, while 18 players across the New South Wales and Queensland sqauds are eligible to represent a Pacific Island nation.
After making his NRL debut in 2019, Coates established himself as a regular starter this season, scoring five tries in 12 matches despite the Broncos finishing a horror season with the wooden spoon.
"He had some really big games, good games this year as well," enthused Marum.
"There's a few tries he scores off kicks and also there was a runaway try that he scored mid-season...he's had his tough time as well with injuries but I got a message on Monday that he was ruled out due to a shoulder injury but got the late message last night that he was all good to play.
"Congratulations to him and I can't wait to watch him go out there in Maroon colours this time and represent Queensland and also PNG."
Former PNG Kumuls and Queensland prop Neville Costigan playing for the Dragons in 2009. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Michael Marum is in regular contact with all of Papua New Guinea's foreign-based players, including Xavier Coates, South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Alex Johnston, Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam and Leeds Rhinos second rower Rhyse Martin.
The veteran coach said rising star Coates has already come a long way since his test debut against Samoa during last year's Oceania Cup.
"We established him into the international scene when we picked him for the Pacific Test against Samoa," he said.
"I could remember that feedback, all the media attention when they were coming in to see him train, see how he was going and watch his game. Unfortunately he picked up a few injuries along the way but we're glad we picked him ahead of his NRL debut and also Origin."