Why Ottio was a PNG hero but no Saint

DAVID CAMPBELL SUCH was Kato Ottio’s love for his country and Papua New Guinea’s national rugby league side, the rising 23-yearold NRL star rejected a contract with St George Illawarra to play in last year’s World Cup.

Ottio’s brother, Ahulo Ottio Jr, revealed details of the Dragons’ offer to his younger brother while delivering the eulogy at Ottio’s funeral yesterday.

The Kumuls star died of heatstroke on Monday after collapsing during an 8km run at a training session with Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters.

About 2000 mourners packed Port Moresby’s Sir John Guise Indoor Complex to farewell Ottio and hear Ahulo honour his brother.

“I’m not sure a lot of people know this but (Kato) had the option to join St George but the contract came with a condition for him to forgo the World Cup and clean out his ACL surgery,” Ahulo said.

“He told me about it and I lost count of the times I begged him to take up the Saints’ offer and forget the World Cup.

“I even lobbied Mum to talk him out of it but it was all in vain.

“His response was with a smile and a giggle. He said: ‘Yes bro, that’s true, but I want to play in front of my people. We don’t know when the World Cup will come back to Papua New Guinea and this is my only chance.”

Ottio was signed to the Raiders from 2015 to 2017.