Pacific Championships 2024: Kangaroos rocked by ugly Xavier Coates drama ahead of opener against Tonga

Xavier Coates“The Kangaroos’ teammates have rallied around the exciting winger after social media trolls targeted the Australian debutant online after he switched international allegiances. The Storm flyer made the difficult decision to represent the Kangaroos ahead of the Kumuls ahead of the 2024 Pacific Championships after making his debut for the second-tier Test nation in 2019.

Despite Papua New Guinea’s coach Jason Demetriou Hoping Coates would be available for selection, he was instead was called up to Mal Meninga’s squad and will make his Australian debut against Tonga on Friday. But the move did not go down well with many PNG fans, who relentlessly abused Coates online in the lead-up to the Pacific Championships.

And ahead of his representative debut, his Kangaroos teammates have looked after the winger. “He’s fine, he’s a nice guy,” Harry Grant said The Daily Telegraph. “Hopefully the people of Papua New Guinea can see where Xavier comes from and stand shoulder to shoulder with him and celebrate his journey with the Kangaroos at the Pacific Championships.”

“I know how much PNG people love their rugby league. I have many supporters from PNG myself and I love and appreciate their support. It is so special that Xavier had the opportunity to represent his mother’s team. She is a proud Papuan.” I hope many of these PNG people can support Xavier on his journey in the Kangaroos jersey.

While urging PNG fans to be kind, Meninga said he was as proud of his PNG heritage as he was of his Australian heritage growing up on the Gold Coast. “We all have different backgrounds. We are all multicultural. We all come from different parts,” Meninga said.

“Xavier is very proud of his Australian heritage on his father’s side. He played 10 Origin games for Queensland and grew up on the Gold Coast. He has a passion for Papua New Guinea but wants to put on the green and gold jersey. This is something he has strived for his entire life. He is as proud of his PNG culture as he is of his green and gold culture.”

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Jason Demetriou understands Xavier Coates’ decision

Coates, whose younger brother Phillip played for the Junior Kumuls against the Australian Schoolboys in Port Moresby on Sunday, remains eligible to play for PNG at the 2026 World Cup. And Demetriou says although he had hoped he would be available for PNG this year , he accepts that he has two ancestry. “I wanted to select him for the Pacific Championships. I know how much it means to him to represent PNG because I spoke to him on the phone,” Demetriou said last week.

“But I also know that Xavier has two roots and it is a very special honor for him to represent Australia. He’s done everything else, but I suppose we’ll let him do that (play for Australia), tick that box and then he can return to the Kumuls before the World Cup.

with AAP