World Footy News

The Malaysian Warriors are this year returning to Manila to contest the Manila Cup after a hiatus in 2011. They are determined to go one better than in each of their three previous appearances in the cup, that is, competing in but losing the Grand Final to the Hong Kong Dragons, going agonisingly close in 2009.

This year the traveling party is about 23 strong with about 15-16 players and support staff of around 7 including the coaches. The team is made up of mainly cup veterans, some who have played in all three of their previous contests in the tournament. There are three players, however, touring for the first time, namely Marcus Coombes (ruck), Stuart Job (centreman) and Adam Kaminski (ruck rover). This year the entire touring squad is ex-pat Aussies.  

The Malaysian Warriors were founded in the late 1980's by ex-pat Aussies working and living in Kuala Lumpur and in the early years played against the RAAF stationed at Butterworth, Penang. Later, matches were played against the Singapore Wombats and Jakarta Bintangs.  

The Malaysian Warriors currently number between 25 and 30 regular players of which there are twenty ex-pat Aussies, a handful of Malaysians and a couple of Irishmen.  

The Warriors' touring party is traveling to Manila on the Friday before the Cup and will fly out on Sunday night as the Sunday brunch gatherings have become somewhat a ritual for the Warriors who all love playing in Manila, although a few stay on till Monday to return home.  

The Warriors have twice hosted the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur first in 2004 and again in 2009.

Thanks to Michael D'Oliveiro with assistance for this story.