https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/no-rugby-league-and-no-family-close-moses-meninga-is-still-asking-is-this-true/news-story/077477ef16a5b0176add896429b214c0 MOSES Meninga is in very new and daunting territory. Rugby league and its community may be mourning the suspension of football but the Papua New Guinea representative’s situation carries an extra layer of complexity. The cancellation of the 2020 Intrust Super Cup due to the coronavirus pandemic has prematurely ended Meninga’s maiden campaign with the Townsville Blackhawks. The Kumuls star had moved to Townsville to push himself, to test his abilities in a new environment and ultimately fuel his charge to an NRL berth. He left his family behind, his life behind, in the hope of matching it with the best in the game. Now as it now stands he will have to bide his time off the field. “This is the first time in my life I haven’t played — due to injuries yes (I’ve missed games), but never in this way,” Meninga said.
“It’s frustrating, playing has been part of our lives and we’ve been doing this year in year out. “It’s part of our daily lives, so taking something out of our daily life I’m asking myself is it true? Is it true we are not going to play again this season? “I can’t accept it at the moment, it’s really frustrating.” With border closures also in place, Meninga cannot return to home to ride out the COVID-19 saga. However, as the initial shock of no football begins to wear, he is focusing on using this phase to make himself an even better player. While statewide tournaments have been called off for the year, there is still a chance for local competitions. Should Townsville be able to begin its season on June 1 — the new date set for the suspension to be lifted — Meninga is eager to enter the club fold. He said whether or not competitive football was going ahead he and his Blackhawks teammates needed to continue the work they had put in throughout the pre-season. “We can’t just live without footy and training for a year then it’s all on us next year, so it’s better we keep ourselves fit now,” Meninga said. “It’s pretty tough for me not playing footy and not able to go back home for quite a while … but I get to talk to my parents and siblings and that keeps me going. “There’s nothing I can do about it, it’s out of my control. I’m just of focusing now on keeping myself fit and healthy. “It’s a long way off, but at the moment I’m just getting myself stronger and doing what I can.”
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AuthorOne of my main responsibilities was to cover the Blackhawks and Gold Stars and build strong relationships at the club. Archives
May 2020
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