{"id":921615,"date":"2026-10-09T08:20:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/921615\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T08:20:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:20:17","slug":"rugby-league-world-cup-papua-new-guinea-rookie-dudley-dotoi-and-brisbane-broncos-teen-tupou-francis-among-nrl-hopefuls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/921615\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby League World Cup: Papua New Guinea rookie Dudley Dotoi and Brisbane Broncos teen Tupou Francis among NRL hopefuls"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nick<\/p>\n

October 9, 2026 \u2014 1:57pm<\/p>\n

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He is the uncapped attacking livewire who boasts one of rugby league\u2019s most enviable try-scoring records. As Dudley Dotoi gets ready for the World Cup, a former Kangaroo says the event will prove he belongs in the NRL.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a really good platform and arena for [Dotoi] to shine and try and show the NRL that\u2019s where he belongs,\u201d Terry Campese, who played for the Kangaroos in 2008, told this masthead.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s pretty much got everything you want as an outside back and as a footy player. He\u2019s got strength, speed and this agility about him that\u2019s really hard to come by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DudleyDudley Dotoi in action for the Townsville Blackhawks.Queensland Rugby League<\/p>\n

Campese has brought the Papua New Guinea flyer under his wing since taking the coaching reins at the Townsville Blackhawks, helping the 23-year-old towards consecutive Winger of the Year accolades in the Queensland Cup.<\/p>\n

Despite the statistics the boy from Bowen has produced \u2013 including 62 tries from just 53 games \u2013 his NRL exposure has been limited to a West Tigers stint fresh out of high school, and a train and trial opportunity last summer with the North Queensland Cowboys.<\/p>\n

After his schoolboy talents were shown at Kirwan State High School, where he shared in state championship glory with Jeremiah Nanai, Dotoi took time to understand what it took to succeed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

A brief demotion followed one occasion when he couldn\u2019t meet a commitment and failed to tell his teammates. But a frank conversation about being there for them triggered change, and in 2026 he was credited with 11 try assists from the flank.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing punctual is probably the easiest word to wrap it all up. His priorities at the time \u2013 putting training first \u2013 he probably didn\u2019t do that as a young kid,\u201d Campese said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunication is the big one \u2026 communicating with the people who can help you through it. I remember one day he turned up late to training, it was only five minutes, and it was captain\u2019s run, and I had to sit him out.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Jarome<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re out in the trenches, and it\u2019s the 79th minute, people want to know they can rely on you and you\u2019ve got their back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got so much talent and so much more to offer. I want to see him play in the NRL.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Kumuls winger Alex Johnston ruled out of the World Cup through injury, the door has opened for Dotoi to make his mark at the World Cup, with the PNG campaign beginning against Lebanon on October 17.<\/p>\n

Equipped with \u201cunbelievable strength\u201d and a \u201cspider sense\u201d to reel in bombs, the development of his grunt work coming out of the back field and defensive intent have caught Campese\u2019s eye, with the coach revealing Dotoi would set targets for yardage carries to hit each week.<\/p>\n

Campese first assessed Dotoi\u2019s mindset as \u201cI\u2019ll score three, and they\u2019ll score one\u201d. Now, that had shifted to \u201che can score five tries and the other guys score none\u201d \u2013 a feat he achieved against Souths Logan this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Dotoi is joined in PNG camp by Blackhawks\u2019 teammate Bailey Biondi-Odo, with the halfback set to link up with the New Zealand Warriors for 2027.<\/p>\n

After 12 NRL appearances for the Bulldogs, injuries derailed the 24-year-old \u2013 a ruptured ACL followed by continued groin, calf and hamstring issues. But after Campese asked Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo about the No.7, he sensed he had a winner.<\/p>\n

Despite spending \u201cprobably 80 per cent of the year\u201d unable to kick as he nursed injury niggles, Biondi-Odo has impressed to the point where the opportunity for a remarkable career resurrection nears. The Kumuls will be without Lachlan Lam (wrist surgery), while the Warriors have farewelled Luke Metcalf, Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson from their halves stocks.<\/p>\n

Campese \u2013 who spent his 10-year career with the Canberra Raiders in the halves \u2013 was adamant Biondi-Odo\u2019s vision to see plays ahead of time and position himself to support made him a lethal threat, and he backed both the Mount Isa product and Dotoi to follow in the footsteps of fellow NRL late-bloomers Jamal Fogarty, Cody Walker and Trai Fuller.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon both of them have the ability and attributes and mindset to be [NRL players], and once they get a sniff, they won\u2019t be giving up that spot,\u201d Campese said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will have to be a decent player coming through wanting to take it off them because I think it\u2019s something they\u2019ll grab with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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