Jason Demetriou named Kumuls coach

Jason Demetriou is set to be appointed the newest coach of the Papua New Guinea men’s national team.

Demetriou was most recently in charge of the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL before parting ways with the club mid-way through the year.

The 48-year-old began his coaching career as a player-coach with the Keighley Cougars in England before joining Queensland Cup team the Northern Pride in 2013.

He took on an NRL assistant role with the North Queensland Cowboys in 2014 and was a part of their premiership-winning coaching staff the following year.

In 2016, he moved to the St George Illawarra Dragons as an NRL assistant and head coach of their affiliate the Illawarra Cutters who he helped lead to a NSW Cup premiership.

He made the move to the Brisbane Broncos the following season to learn under Wayne Bennett who he followed to the Rabbitohs in 2018 before replacing him as head coach in 2022.

PNGRFL executive Stanley Hondina is excited to bring Demetriou in as the team prepares for the 2027 RLWC.

“Being able to bring someone of the calibre of Jason Demetriou in to coach the Kumuls is fantastic news for the game in PNG,” Hondina said in a statement.

“Jason has tremendous experience at NRL level and was an integral part of the North Queensland coaching staff that won the 2015 Premiership… He will bring a great knowledge of the game and a winning mindset to the role, and we believe that he is the perfect fit for what we are looking to create with our national side.”

Demetriou will make his Kumuls coaching debut in October’s Pacific Bowl with the side set to face-off against Fiji and the Cook Islands in an attempt to defend their title.

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