Papua New Guinea rugby league coach Adrian Lam has quit in the lead up to next month's Four Nations tournament.

PNG's two major newspapers reported on Wednesday the former Queensland and PNG representative stepped down from coaching the Kumuls but no official explanation has been given.

PNG's Post Courier newspaper reported Lam wants to focus on supporting the finals' bid for NRL team St George Illawarra.

Lam is assistant to Dragon's coach Wayne Bennett.

But in May Lam made an emotional plea to the PNG Rugby League (PNGRL) to stop debilitating internal feuds, bickering and politicking other wise he would step down as Kumuls' coach.

PNGRL chairman Gary Juffa confirmed the resignation and assured fans the Kumuls were on track to be a competitive force in the Four Nations comp.

"Even with Adrian stepping down there are still contingency plans and we will carry on with the Kumuls," he said.

Juffa and the PNGRL are expected to make an official statement on Wednesday afternoon.

Lam has ended all PNG responsibilities and a new coach will be named shortly, Juffa said.

The loss will be a costly blow for PNG who later this month will take on the Australian Prime Minister's XIII in an annual clash that brings thousands of footy mad supporters to Port Moresby's biggest stadium.

While the PNG side has put in an impressive performance against league's big three in the 2008 World Cup they still have a long way to go if they want to achieve their dream of entering a side in the NRL competition.

PNG, with the backing of the government and major sponsors, is spending millions in a bid to win over NRL executives to allow them to enter a side by 2015.

PNG qualified for the Four Nations competition after winning last year's Pacific Cup but they will have a massive challenge when they come up against the might of Australia, New Zealand and England.

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