PNG fans enjoyed seeing the Albert Brothers (Stanton and Wellington) in last year’s Pacific Test, but this time around they will instead get to watch another pair of siblings in Ase and Watson Boas combining together for the Kumuls for the first time.
The both Albert brothers were unfortunate to miss selection for the national team this year due to injury.
While Watson may be a rookie compared to his big brother Ase for the Kumuls, he has been a real general on the field when it comes to organising the team and leading the attack.
Hailing from a mixed parentage of Oro, Simbu and East New Britain Provinces of PNG, Watson is a star in making if you look at his young career history.
He started playing rugby league when he was in Grade 7 and played in the school boys competitions before taking part in the Kokopo Rugby League where he made his way into the Agmark Gurias side in 2014 to join his brother Ase.
However, Ase left Gurias for Hunters in 2015 and Watson was keen to follow him.
He had a breakthrough season last year where he played consistent footy and helped his team win the Digicel Cup final (defeating TNA Lions 26-18), the Melanesian Club Championship and was selected to play for the PNG Prime Minister’s XIII.
At the start of this year, Watson reunited with his big brother, and the pair are currently playing good football together for the PNG Hunters side in the Intrust Super Cup and with lead the team around the park tonight in the halves.
Watson describes Ase as “a big brother he can look up to as a role model”.
He added that in his home, his mother would tell him in tok pisin that: "you kisim ol gurias or Kumul jumper na ol gears blo Ase (Ase Boas) na wearim raun”, but he usually replied and said: "mummy em kisim lo strong blo m yah me too pikinini man so me ba trym kisim lo strong blo me, me kisim me kisim, nogat, nogat.”
In English it means (“my mum told me to wear his [Ase’s] Agmark Gurias or Kumuls jumper, but I would reply and say that he got all this with his hard work and commitment, so I am a young man and will play to earn this things, if I get it that’s good and if I don’t, that’s good too.”
However, it seems Watson has the motivation to follow the path of his big brother and this afternoon he will represent the people of Papua New Guinea and wear the yellow, red and black colors of the Kumuls.
*The PNG Kumuls v Fiji Bati game will kick off this afternoon at 5.35pm. Watch via the NRL Digital Pass or Fox Sports.
