BY SCOTT DILLON

The passing of Papua New Guinean flyer Kato Ottio one year ago while doing pre-season training in his home country shocked many.

Ottio had become a cult hero at the Mounties NSW Cup club who are the feeder to the Canberra Raiders.

That meant Ottio played plenty of footy in front of The81stMinute Commentary Team too.

He had just signed on to play in the English Super League.

Shockingly, while on a road run in PNG, Ottio collapsed and never recovered dyeing in hospital.

Ottio’s dream was to make enough money in rugby league to build his mum a home.

Finally, twelve months after his death, his dream came true.

The Raiders and Widnes Vikings in England raised enough money to re-build Ottio’s family home.

“He didn’t play NRL but he would have at some point,” The81stMinute Commentary Team’s lead caller Curtis Woodward told us.

“Ottio was a class finisher. He would have been unbelievable in the Super League. It’s a shame we never got to see what he could do.”

Ottio was just 23.