It’s not unusual to see Orange City Lions coach Steve Hamson throw his hand up to help international rugby union sides touring Australia in a liaison officer role.
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But a Welsh rugby league side? That’s new, pussy cat.
Terrible references to Tom Jones songs aside, Hamson will look after the Wales team that’s qualified for its first Rugby League World Cup in the southern hemisphere since 1975 when the 2017 tournament kicks off later this month.
The Welsh will take on Papua New Guinea in its tournament opener on October 28 at Port Moresby.
Hamson heads into camp with the Welsh on Saturday as the team prepares for its opening clash with the Kumuls with a week-long camp in Brisbane.
While most are writing off a Wales squad sans any form of NRL players, Hamson believes the Dragons are capable of burning down the house on route to the sudden death games.
“Who knows, we could end up in Brisbane for the final,” Hamson laughed.
“We could be, the passport is up to date, we’ll see what happens. If we don’t win our pool they head home from Perth.
“But it’s tournament footy - anything can happen.”
The Welsh play in Port Moresby, Townsville and then head west to Perth and, if they win all of those games, will potentially play in a quarter-final at Melbourne.
Hamson said the chance to check out the rugby league-mad PNG was part of the reason behind throwing his hand up for the gig with Wales.
Although he’s expecting it to be a bit of an eye-opener.
”I’ve heard it’s a bit of a wild west show up there. I’ve never been, that’s the whole reason I’ve put in for the job,” he said.
“We’re staying in a five star place, but it’s a compound. We’re not to go out at night, and if we go out in the day it has to be in groups.
“They’re mad rugby league though, we should be right.”
Hamson has previously been a liaison officer for the Japanese and Samoan rugby union sides while they tour Australia.
Wales’ first game of the RLWC is at Oil Search National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, on October 28.
Kick-off is at 3pm.
He’s in charge of logistics and administration for the group, basically ensuring “their trip goes to plan”.
But, in a broader sporting sense, the two-time premiership winning Blowes Clothing Cup coach says he’s keen to see the Welsh in action.
“There’s always drills you can translate (between sports). There’s always something to learn, whether it be a warm-up drill or a bit more technical,” he said.
“But I’m not heading in with any expectation.”
And as for the notoriously tough-to-understand Welsh dialect, Hamson’s not too concerned.
“I’m sure we’ll get by,” he laughed.
“It’ll be interesting … as long either party doesn’t get to fast or to too excited I think we’ll be fine.”