More than thirty (30) professional referees have pledged their support for the Rigo Rice Cup Rugby Competition.
The referees had a brief session with the tournament CEO, Mcsteve Polly, and deliberated significant points, guidelines and inhouse discussions leading up to the tournament.
These referees were formally signed up by the KCK Rigo Rice Cup host organizing committees, and are ready to officiate matches in the four different pools throughout Port Moresby.
Rigo Rice Cup CEO, Mcsteve Polly, during the meeting discussed the importance of fair play and integrity when officiating matches, especially in major competitions that involve more than 10 teams participating.
A female touch-rugby judge was also present among the referees.
She voiced her concerns about the need for more women in the field, expressing her hope to see more women touch-rugby judges working alongside male counterparts which was taken note of by the RRC Team.
Meanwhile, the KCK Rigo Rice Cup will be launched on Saturday the 09th of November, where the total number of participating teams will be announced together with their names.
NCD Suburban Sports Foundation Chairman and President for Moresby North West Rugby League Mr Billy Aki has been appointed as the tournament coordinator for the Rigo Rice Cup.
The tournament will take place on November 9th 2024 in Port Moresby North West.
This appointment was formalised by the KCK Rigo Rice Cup CEO Mcsteve Polly on Friday (03/11/24) in Port Moresby, following a formal meeting with Mr. Aki and the Rigo Rice Cup Team.
“Billy Aki has immense experience from various top tier rugby league competitions in the country like the NCD Governor’s Cup, and we are glad that he will be sharing it to our younger generation of rugby league players in his pool of coordination throughout the tournament,” said Polly.
Following this appointment, Billy Aki expressed his full support to the tournament and permitted the KCK Rigo Rice Cup to be played at the Kone Tigers Oval for Port Moresby North West pool.
This Rugby League Tournament aims to be the biggest grassroots tournament in Papua New Guinea with over K300,000 cash prizes to be won in its first edition this year.
Rigo Rice Cup is proudly sponsored by naming rights/platinum sponsors Rigo Rice Limited and Kendekali Lawyers.
The Competition is set to kick off on November 09th right after registration closes, and the games will be held in five different venues throughout Port Moresby City.
➢ Moresby North West: Ipi Park, Hohola ➢ Moresby North East: Bomana Police College Field ➢ Moresby South: Bava Park ➢ Motu Koita: Kone Field
The tournament encourages teams to field youth players between the ages of 16 and 23, as this will increase their chances of being scouted for opportunities abroad.
To ensure a platform for emerging talents to shine, each team may include a maximum of three Digicel Cup players (former or current).
Fossil fuel giant, Santos, has renewed its naming rights sponsorship for the Papua New Guinea women’s national rugby league team, the Orchids.
Despite the recent slump in form by the National women’s team, Santos sees the potential to invest in the pathways and programs to improve the standard and empowerment of women in rugby league.
The three-year multimillion kina investment by Santos will cover the junior school rugby league development programs, technical coaching and support staff, travel and accommodation and international fixtures for the orchids such as the current Pacific Championships leading up to the World Cup in 2026.
Santos Country Chairman, Leon Buskens said Santos continues to support the empowerment of women in Papua New Guinea in line with its values in building a better future.
“At Santos our purpose is about creating a better world for everyone by delivering positive outcomes in the areas where we operate, and the Orchids provide a great platform for our young women and girls to realize their full potential,” Buskens said.
L-R: PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina, Orchids Chairlady Ms Celestine Ove and Leon Buskens, Santos Country Chairman.
Santos is also the naming rights sponsor of the first ever women’s national rugby league competition, which is part of the partway to strengthen the national women’s team.
Chairlady of the Santos PNG Orchids, Celestine Ove said Santos believes in the pathways that are being set up by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football league, and despite a slump in performance, they see improvement soon.
“The sponsorship is purpose driven. It is a powerful platform to empower our women and girls to give them an equal opportunity to participate. Rugby league is said to be the national sport and it’s for both men and women.
“I know the performance wasn’t desirable but from the start of the Orchids in 2017 to now, having the Santos Cup, we are working on strengthening the pathways for our women and girls.
“With the emergence of the junior Orchids who performed well against the Australian school girls, we are excited that in a few years time we look to see the Women’s competition,” Ove said.
The PNG Womens team (Orchids) was established in 2017 as the first ever women’s national team for Papua New Guinea. In 2019 they beat the England Women’s side and in 2022 they made it to the Women’s Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Chief Executive Officer of Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League, Stanley Hondina said there is a clear pathway set to grow the game and standard of women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea.
He added that rugby league experts involved in establishing the developmental pathways are important.
He said the Australians are playing at a different level and we must get the best options to help improve the standard of the women’s game in Papua New Guinea.
He added that the focus is on improving the domestic competition so the women can be competitive during international matches.
“The quality of Santos Cup is equivalent to the BMD Cup in Brisbane. Everything that we do in the Santos Cup is of that standard, instead of sending five girls to play in Australia, we build our players on the domestic front so bring in the subject matter experts and build our systems, build the processes for us so that our players can come through.
“In the next five years we want our competitions to compete with the Queensland Cup,” Hondina said.
Jamayne Isaako believes an NRL team in Christchurch could grow to the same levels of popularity as the booming Warriors in Auckland.
The NRL last week rejected three separate bids from New Zealand’s South Island among eight that were unsuccessful in the latest round of expansion applications.
But to players from the area, the Pacific Championships clash between New Zealand and Australia on Sunday was the latest reminder of the game’s potential in Christchurch.
While Christchurch has long been synonymous with Super Rugby powerhouse the Crusaders, some 17,005 fans packed into Apollo Projects Stadium for the Kangaroos’ first visit since 1989.
The last three NRL games played at the ground have also pulled crowds above 17,000, while construction on a 30,000-seat stadium in the Christchurch CBD is set to be completed in 2026 as another boon for sport in the area.
Teams from Perth and PNG remain the favourites to enter the NRL as the 18th and 19th teams in coming years.
But in his role heading up Christchurch’s leading bid the South Island Kea, ex-NRL chief executive David Moffett told Nine Newspapers this week he was committed to revisiting the push for inclusion in the NRL.
Players hailing from the area were hopeful Christchurch would be considered in plans to expand to 20 teams in the next decade.
“I definitely think that they’re ready for a team to be blooded here in Christchurch or in the South Island, wherever it is, that they look to bring another team in,” Dolphins winger Isaako said after playing in New Zealand’s 22-10 defeat by Australia.
“It was good to see the passion of the Cantabrians when it comes to rugby league.”
For further evidence of rugby league’s growth potential in New Zealand, Isaako pointed to the Warriors’ spike in popularity since their homecoming after COVID-19 restrictions eased.
The Auckland side became a national phenomenon en route to a preliminary final in 2023 and sold out every home game this season for the first time in any of their 30 years in the league.
“You see the fanbase that turn out for the Warriors. We could certainly have that here in the South Island if there was a team brought here,” said Isaako.
“Rugby league certainly is a game that’s growing here in New Zealand. If we could bring another team to New Zealand, it’d only add to that.”
Local product Jordan Riki knows first-hand of rugby league’s growth in Christchurch. The Brisbane second-rower’s mother Janelle sits on the board of the Canterbury Rugby League.
“I talk to her pretty much nearly every day and she’s been telling me about some cool plans that have been coming through for Canterbury Rugby League and South Island rugby league,” he said.
“It’s awesome to see that it’s growing down here.”
Papua New Guinea was left with three losses and a draw in this years Prime Ministers XIII Challenge.
The Junior Orchids lost to the Australian School girls 14 points to 4, while the Junior Kumuls Managed a draw with the Australian School Boys 22 points each.
The Junior Kumuls took an early lead but with 7 minutes remaining Australia scored three tries back to back to force a draw.
The biggest thumping from Australia came in the Womens match when the Australian Women’s Prime Ministers XIII side had a field day scoring 50 points with the PNG Women left scoreless for the entire match.
PNG Womens PM’s XIII side left scoreless on Sunday. Pics by NRL.
In the main game Papua New Guinea came out early to score two converted tries taking a 12 – 0 lead but were forced to chase down a 42 points lead from Australia. PNG’s errors and discipline led them to lose their early lead only managing 20 points. In the end, the Australian PMs XIII side ended the game winners 42 points to 20. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape said that the concept was very important for PNG and Australia’s partnership, especially the push by Papua New Guinea to be the 18th team in the National Rugby League (NRL) which has gained much support from the Australian Federal Government.
Prime Minister James Marape promised an even bigger Prime Ministers XIII Challenge during Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence in 2025.
An optimistic Marape added that by 2028 PNG should have a positive answer from the National Rugby League competition in Australia.
“I want to appreciate the Australian Government for their support. We hope to see our own team play in the NRL hopefully in 2028 onwards,” Marape said.
Representing the Government of Australia was Pat Conroy Minister for Defence Industry & Capability Delivery who he is also the Minister for International Development and the Pacific.
Sharing similar views with Marape is also positive about the ongoing discussions for Papua New Guinea to enter the NRL.
He said rugby league was a key factor in uniting the two nations in the Pacific.
Conroy said the spinoff from a successful NRL Bid will bring more development and job opportunities for Papua New Guineans in PNG and in Australia as well.
“Like Prime Minister Marape I am very optimistic we have reached an agreement with the fundamentals, just the final details but I am very confident we are going to get there and nothing will bring our two countries closer together.
“More PNG players in the NRL will be an awesome thing and I think in the years to come a PNG team will rival Penrith for dominating the competition,” Conroy said.
Brendon Nima after a strong showing in the Queensland Host Plus Cup has been chosen for the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers XIII side.
The Prime Ministers XIII rugby league challenge between Papua New Guinea and Australia will be this Sunday (13/10/24). The the kick off will be at 4pm at the Santos National Football Stadium.
Nima who plays wing says there are many talented backliners in the PNG side and it will be a challenge for him and other players to impress selectors if they want to make the Kumuls side for the Pacific Championships. The team is focused on defense and Nima says they are ready to take on the Australians.
He adds they have a good mix of players in the side and the team is always full of pride to represent Papua New Guinea.
Elsie Albert will be leading the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers XIII womens side today against Australia.
Albert has been power house in the Women’s National Rugby League Competition in Australia. She is currently playing for the Paramatta Eels women’s team. Elsie will be one of only four women that play in the WNRL in Australia.
Others include Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka who play for the North Queensland Cowboys and Ua Ravu with the Canberra Raiders. There is a handful of players from the Queensland Cup and other Australian based competitions. The rest of the team is made up of women from Papua New Guineas National Women’s Rugby League Competition the Santos Cup. The squad comprises of 22 women.
Elsie Albert as captain of the Women’s Prime Ministers XIII side is confident the team will be up for a win against the Australian side.
“You have to have confidence in the team and I am confident that the team that we have can get the job done for Papua New Guinea.
“Its always a proud moment when we put on the jersey and it will be the same this Sunday and we will be giving our best shot to get the win this Sunday,” Albert said.
Coach Tahnee Norris says the team has jelled well and after a few training sessions together they are looking well prepared for todays match. She said the Prime Minister XIII match will help in her selection for the Orchids side that will take part in the Pacific Championship.
She is eager to see how the women selected from the Santos Cup will perform on Sunday.
“We had a couple of training sessions and the girls have come together.
“There are a few girls that featured well in the Santos cup and have put their hands up for selection in the Prime Ministers 13 side.
“It has given them every opportunity to make that side for the Pacific Championships and I am very keen on seeing how they perform on Sunday,” Norris said.
The Australian Womens Coach Jess Skinner said they are anticipating a tough encounter with the PNG womens side.
She added that some of the women will also be looking to impress the coaches for their chance to make the Australian Jilaroos side for the Pacific Championship as well.
“The games going to be really tough and there is a lot of experience in the Papua New Guinea Prime Ministers 13 team as well. We are looking forward to the match on Sunday it will be really entertaining.
“We have the Pacific Championships and some of the other girls will be joining us then but we have a job to do this weekend,” Skinner said.
The Prime Ministers 13 fixture for 2024 is set for Sunday the 13th of October, the teams from Australia arrived on Friday (11/10/24) in Port Moresby for Sundays matches.
Papua New Guinea still has about 20 spots to fill in the PNG LNG Kumuls Pacific Championships side and will be using the Prime Ministers 13 as the final showcase to decide a team for the National side that will take on the Fiji Bati in Suva on the 19th of October.
Australia has a relatively young side in this year’s PMs 13, but all their players are emerging future Kangaroos in the NRL competition.
Papua New Guinea on the other hand has a bulk of it’s players from the Queensland Cup Competition with additions from the Super League and the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup.
Australia has always come out on top in the PMs 13 fixtures, always the winners over the past years. PNG has only a draw with Australia in a 24 all scoreline in 2007.
PNGs new Coach Jason Demetriou has shifted focus for the team on defense, adding that they need to work on stopping the Australians from scoring.
“There is a few things we have worked on in and around our defense we want to put some practice into that before we go to Fiji for the Pacific Test,” Demetriou said
Demetriou has picked a team that is dynamic and can score points, with a couple of breakout stars in the Queensland Cup such as try scoring sensation Dudley Dotoi of the Townsville Blackhawks.
“Like I told the boys we will get tested by a quality side from Australia, I know we can score points but we will have to work on our defense.” Demetriou added.
Australian PMs 13 Coach Brad Fittler says the opportunity to represent their country is the highlight for most of the players in his camp, most of the players are just starting out their careers in the NRL.
“The one thing I have noticed picking this teams is the immense talent and potential they have, It is a long process to pick a side and the NRL season is a long season, but the players show a lot of enthusiasm and they will be a great team to challenge the PNG Prime Ministers 13,” Fittler said.
He added that the players are excited for the match. Fittler has encouraged his team to take the match as a stepping stone towards a Kangaroos jersey.
“I think anytime these players get a chance to get selected and improve, they get the chance to wear the Australian Jersey and play along side some of their idols like Damian Cook. I think its very important to them.
“A lot of these players are at the start of their careers and let alone representative careers. This is a stepping stone to hopefully be the team that are playing in the Pacific Championships in the future. It’s up to the players to see this as the challenge and stepping stone,” Fittler adds.
After the PMs 13 clash, the focus for Jason Demetriou will shift to the Kumuls side, in preparation for the Pacific Championships.
Only 10 players will leave early for Fiji while the rest of the team will be made up of players from the Prime Ministers 13.
“Every player that goes out on Sunday will have the opportunity to present themselves and put their name forward for the Pacific Championships.
“Its such a strong feeling to give the guys the opportunity to put on the jumper to represent their country. There is so much emotion from some of the guys that will be playing in this game on Sunday, it is a privilege to present that opportunity to them,” Demetriou said.
Luke Brooks has revealed he will go into his halves pairing with Lachlan Galvin cold, having only just met despite the pair’s similar paths at Wests Tigers.
Brooks will play his first representative game in almost 10 years for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea on Sunday, with Galvin alongside him.
On the surface the careers of Brooks and Galvin appear tightly entwined, and in another world they could have been the Tigers’ long-term halves pairing.
Galvin’s debut this year at Wests Tigers was the most hyped of any player at the club since Brooks’ in 2013, when he was labelled by critics as the next Andrew Johns.
Brooks battled under that spotlight, enduring almost a decade of being a punching bag for Tigers fans, before eventually leaving for Manly at the end of 2023.
His exit allowed Galvin to be picked out of SG Ball for round one this year, without ever having played a senior game.
Lachlan Galvin of the Tigers runs with the ball during the NRL Round 24 match between the Wests Tigers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Campbelltown Stadium Saturday, August 17, 2024. (AAP Image/MARK EVANS)
Galvin subsequently starred, was named the Rugby League Players Association’s rookie of the year, and would likely have won the same award at the Dally Ms if not ineligible due to a suspension.
But despite those paths, Brooks said he and Galvin had only met for the first time at a sizing day last week, and never trained together at the Tigers.
“I actually don’t know him too well,” Brooks said ahead of Sunday’s clash in Port Moresby.
“I didn’t meet him when I was at the Tigers, but I did meet him (last Wednesday).
“I don’t think he played 20s, so we didn’t have anything to do with each other.
“But it’s exciting. I haven’t been over there (PNG), but I’ve heard it’s a crazy experience, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Regardless, Brooks said he had been impressed by the way Galvin had handled the spotlight this year at age 19.
“It’s tough to be in your rookie year in that sort of situation, but he really stood out in that side and I thought he was great,” Brooks said.
“He’s an attacking weapon.
“The one thing I noticed when we played against him was just how busy he was. He was moving around the whole field and getting his hands on the ball.
“He’s always looking to create something, so for him to be able to do that at such a young age is pretty special.”
Brooks admitted he thought the chance to wear a green-and-gold jersey had passed him by, and was surprised by the call-up to the PM’s XIII.
He will be one of the senior players in an inexperienced side, with Damien Cook to captain and Brad Fittler coaching.
Ivan Cleary has no concerns about throwing Scott Sorensen into the cauldron of an NRL grand final after clearing the Penrith forward to feature against Melbourne.
Cleary confirmed on Saturday that Sorensen was fit to take the field in Sunday’s decider after being sidelined for the past month with a hamstring issue.
The Penrith coach would not confirm who would drop out for Sorensen, but the return of the New Zealand international is a significant boost for the Panthers.
“He’ll be playing. It’s awesome. Sorro’s been a big part of our team the last three years,” Cleary said on Saturday.
“He’s a real soldier in our team.
“Everyone was pretty bummed when he got injured a few weeks ago (against Parramatta) and it looked like that was the end for him this year.
“He was really devastated. To be able to work so hard and get back and for him to be able to make a contribution tomorrow is really good.
“Last week he definitely was (pushing to play and) if it was a round game throughout the year, you probably wouldn’t do it, but we definitely considered it.
“In the end it was just too big a risk, so we were always hoping we’d win the game and we’d be able to give him a chance this week. He has ticked every box.”
Cleary, however, would not be drawn on which player would miss out.
Matt Eisenhuth – a long-serving player at Penrith, who has yet to win an NRL grand final – looms as the most likely casualty of Sorensen being given the all-clear.
Still named on the bench as the Panthers trimmed their squad 24 hours before kick-off, Eisenhuth said earlier this week he would have no issue making way for a fit-again Sorensen.
Daine Laurie is the other Penrith player alongside Sorensen to be spared the axe from the Panthers’ extended squad.
“That’s the real downer when it comes to this time of year and these sorts of games,” Cleary said.
“You’d love them all to play but they can’t, unfortunately.
“We’ll confirm the 17 tomorrow (on Sunday) … I’ve got things covered.”
Sorensen’s inclusion gives Penrith an extra experienced head to match it in the middle against a Storm side deprived of Nelson Asofa-Solomona due to suspension.
“They (the Storm) had a great season and they’ve been very dominant in their two finals games,” Cleary said.
“When you get to grand final day you expect to play against the best. That’s certainly the case for us.
“It’s the old saying, to be the best you’ve got to beat the best, and we are looking forward to that challenge.”
