The rookie
The PNG rugby league player pushing into the big league
HOW far can Kato go? That’s the question rugby league fans in Papua New Guinea are asking about 22-yearold Kato Ottia, plucked from the PNG-based Hunters’ Queensland Cup side last year to train and trial with NRL giants Canberra Raiders. The amazing story behind this outstanding athlete was that he had never played league before he was spotted by the Hunters last year. His game of choice was volleyball but he was recruited after impressing in a rugby sevens tournament. In his first 18 months of league, he has starred for the Hunters, packed up and moved to Canberra to try to break into the big-time, played for the Kumuls against Fiji and made the Raiders side that played in the Auckland Nines. Oh, and he has been making waves for the Raiders’ feeder team – the Mount Pritchard-based Mounties – which is leading the Intrust NSW Cup with Ottia on top of the competition’s try-scoring table. In his first six games he ran in 10 tries. Peter Mulholland, the recruitment officer who brought Ottia to Canberra, says the rising star has been progressing well in his rugby league education.
“He is still young and is gaining experience with rugby league every week,” Mulholland says.
“The Mounties have a very strong backline which makes Kato’s job on the wing easier.
“His strengths are his power and athletic ability, similar to many of the top wingers in the NRL.”
Coach Ricky Stuart says all his physical stats show he is a great athlete.
“He’s a little bit of a project and it’s a good opportunity for him,” Stuart says.
The club is not setting major goals for Ottia this season, instead allowing him plenty of time to settle in.
Stuart says the physical side of the game has proven a bit of a shock for the league novice but he is handling it well. ’”If we can turn him into a footballer, more’s the better,” Stuart says. At 192 centimetres and 106 kilograms,
At 192 centimetres and 106 kilograms, the big winger has proven more than a handful to bring down when rampaging down the sideline.
the big winger has proven more than a handful to bring down when rampaging down the sideline.
The driving force behind Ottia’s urge to succeed and become a regular player in the NRL is his desire to buy his mother a house in his village of Tatana. He was just 14 when his father passed away. He told the ABC earlier this year that he would fight to achieve his goals and make his mother and his village proud of him.
“She looked after me when I was a kid and I’m so grateful, so I want to work hard while I’m here and make the most of every opportunity.”
PNG’s most famous rugby league player is Adrian Lam, an incisive running half back, who rose to captain Queensland’s state-of-origin team.
Lam also played for the Kumuls and was national coach at one stage.