PNG Rugby League

Kumuls coup: In-demand Holbrook to coach Papua New Guinea

Another building block in the development of rugby league in PNG has been achieved with the appointment of Justin Holbrook as the head coach of the PNG Kumuls.

The news comes at an important time as PNG continues its strategic approach to creating an internal pathways system as part of its bid to join the NRL.

Holbrook, who has recently been appointed as Roosters assistant coach working with Trent Robinson, will take up his new role this month.

National women’s rugby league showdown set

Southern, Northern, Highlands and New Guinea Islands Confederates are scheduled to play seven matches, each in round robin format with the top two teams qualifying for the play-off in the grand final on September 3, and as curtain raiser to the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup grand final.

The National Women’ Championships is being run in conjunction with this year’s DigicelExxon Mobil Cup finals and will showcase the cream of female rugby league talents from across the  four regions.

Papua New Guinea launches bid to become NRL’s 18th team

As the NRL awaits the introduction of the Dolphins as the 17th team next year, Papua New Guinea has put its hand up for the license of the 18th club.

Rugby league powerbrokers want to make the NRL an 18-team competition at some point in the future, but it’s hard to envisage that happening before the upcoming broadcast agreement ends after the 2027 season.

Baptiste Announces Retirement

Baptiste also represented the country on seven occasions, including four Tests in the 2017 World Cup. Baptiste took to social media on Saturday to call time on his career, expressing his pride and thanks in the opportunities those around him gave.

 Baptiste wrote in a post to Instagram. “I don’t even know where to begin.

“These past years have been one hell of a ride. I have taken this time to look back on it all, and although it was never easy, I feel incredibly proud of all that I have achieved.

Three debutants for PNG league team

Departing North Queensland Cowboys playmaker Kyle Laybutt, who made his NRL debut last year, is set to compete with Watson Boas for chance to partner Lachlan Lam in the halves.

South Logan Magpies centre Daniel Russell gets his chance in the senior PNG squad, having previously turned out for a Queensland PNG representative side, while fullback Edene Gebbie is one of eight PNG Hunters players in the 18-man squad.

PM’s XIII theme to ‘stop violence’

Moving forward, the consequences   of violence in sports will be very high as PNG is now a grown up society and most people have embraced the support the Government has given to them in sports.

“However, it takes only one silly person to spoil it for the majority and with the theme ‘Stop Violence’, it’s a call to condemn all forms of violence in sports,” said Minister for Sports and National Events  Justin Tkatchenko.

“Going forward we will not accept violence in sport and we also will not accept violence against women in our communities,” Minister Tkatcheko said.

PNG’s league ranking an embarrassment: Polye

 This time the Opposition Leader Don Pomb Polye has taken the minister and his rugby league board to task over PNG’s low ranking in the World Rugby League standard.

“Our love for rugby league does not complement well with PNG being placed at the 11th spot, seven places far below its fellow Pacific Island nation Samoa, which is on the 4th spot and five places below Fiji’s 6th spot in the World Rugby League index.

Segeyaro set for tough reception on Saturday

The 11th edition of the annual challenge will be played under the lights at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.

In a combined media conference this afternoon, PNG PMs 13 coach Stanley Tepend gave a thumbs up for his troops' preparation.

“The camp is good; they all play against each in the Digicel Cup and have now bonded well as a group.”

His counterpart Ivan Cleary said, “Many (of the players in the squad) play together and the combination will there.