With the national rugby league season just weeks away, 37 match officials have officially secured their credentials to take the field. The group, consisting of referees and touch judges, completed the PNGRFL Better Development Accreditation workshop this week in preparation for the April 12 kickoff.
The intensive two-day program, hosted at the Santos National Football Stadium, saw participants from across Papua New Guinea tackle 16 training modules. The cohort includes three women, marking a significant step in the PNGRFL’s push for inclusive representation within the sport’s officiating ranks.
The accreditation is a collaborative effort between the PNGRFL, Queensland Rugby League (QRL), the National Rugby League (NRL), and PacificAus Sport. By aligning with international benchmarks, the program ensures that PNG officials are equipped to perform on both local and regional stages.
Greer Beck, QRL Development Coach for Match Officials, facilitated the sessions and emphasized the value of global consistency.
“At the moment, we’re focusing on ensuring PNG referees are accredited under NRL guidelines. This ensures they hold the correct accreditation standards so that if they were to officiate games in Australia, they would already meet Australian accreditation requirements,” Beck said.
The 37 newly accredited officials are now eligible to oversee all five competitions under the PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) banner. For PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina, the workshop is a cornerstone of the league’s commitment to professionalism.
“I’m pleased to see all of you complete this two-day workshop, and I thank Greer Beck for facilitating these sessions since last year,” Hondina said during the closing remarks.
“Workshops like this are important in preparing referees for our five competitions. Congratulations to all of you for making the cut for the 2026 season. Take ownership of your development, prepare thoroughly, and deliver at a high standard.”
For the officials, the training offered a chance to refine technical skills. James Tau Amos, a veteran referee from the Lae Rugby League with seven years of experience, said there is always room for growth.
“This would be my seventh time attending such a workshop since I started refereeing. One area I want to improve on after this is working more effectively with the touch judges and improving referee positioning during matches,” Amos said.
The workshop also highlighted the growing role of women in the sport. Heavenly Paul, who officiates across the Santos Cup, National Youth Competition, and the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup, views her role as a blueprint for others.
“I have been officiating since 2021 and have attended several workshops since then,” Paul shared.
“Although this can be a challenging career, I proudly stand as a representative and role model for other women who wish to follow this path. If men can play and officiate the game, women can too.”
