Sixteen Rugby league development officers participated in an open session training program today conducted by NRL experts from Australia under the NRL Australia in PNG program.
The 30 minutes session was held at Holiday Inn Hotel as part of the 2016 NRL PNG conference which started on Wednesday and will end on Friday Jan 22, led by Games Development Officer Brian Rowe from NRL Australia.
Rowe is a Level Three high performance coach in the NRL and has coached the Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels in their development programs.
The training session on Wednesday was aimed at building capacity for NRL staff from PNG by enhancing knowledge on latest trends in delivering rugby league community and game development activities.
The open session involved basic skills in ball handing and game plan.
Rowe highlighted the importance of upskilling league development officers to better deliver the League Bilong Laif program at schools throughout their regions.
“It’s our goal to continue to grow the game in the Pacific and it’s really important that the program we deliver is at the highest level and everybody is included in it.
“It’s about increasing participation but what we want is that every teacher and student goes away with a very good experience playing rugby league,” said Rowe.
The PNG NRL staff were flown in from their respective regions, East New Britain, Eastern Highlands and Autonomous Region of Bougainville for the meet.