“On behalf of the PNGRFL Board and management, our corporate partners, sponsors and all the fans and supporters throughout PNG, let me congratulate Captain Rod Griffin and the players, Coach Michael Marum and his technical staff, for the outstanding performance and win and for representing our national sport and country with pride and honour,” said Tsaka.

Tsaka said one of the main topics on the agenda is the International Calendar for the next five years starting in 2018.

“This is part of the Rugby League International Board’s aim to align with the Global Conversion Strategy to support the growth of international rugby league,” said Tsaka.

The chairman said this will also be the first time for all Pacific members to meet.

PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNG-NRLC) Administrator, Stanley Hondina said the deferment was unavoidable as some franchises who expressed interest to participate had sponsorship issues to sort out as well as the other minimum requirements to meet as set out by the PNG-NRLC.

“These issues need to be sorted out therefore the launch has been moved to next Wednesday April 26 with the kick off scheduled for the weekend of April 30th, 2017,” said Hondina.

He said details on which teams will be participating plus the draws and so on will be released soon.

Suspect in Laufa death will not go uncharged, says police

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/suspect-laufa-death-will-not-go-uncharged-says-police-55696

The main witness and suspect involved in the incident which led to the death of the former Miss PNG- Ruby Ann Laufa will not go uncharged.

Guru recently resigned as Chairman of the PNG NRL, with franchise owner of the Lae Snax Tigers, Adrian Chow being appointed his successor.

“On behalf of the PNGRFL and the rugby league family in PNG, I want to thank Sudhir for his six years of dedicated service to the PNG NRL.

“He’s brought the organization to a level where it is a very successful organization. Financially, it is in a very healthy place today, and that’s mostly due to Sudhir’s stewardship, the management, the franchise owners and the board of the PNG NRL.

Chow’s appointment was first on a number of announcements made today at a press conference this morning by Chairman of the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL), Sandis Tsaka.

“Adrian is no stranger to rugby league through the Snax Tigers. Through his family and their company, they have supported rugby league from the grassroots to the elite level.

“With Adrian’s wealth of experience in the commercial sector and sports, I know he’ll do a great job in supporting the growth of rugby league in the country. We welcome you on board Adrian,” said Tsaka.

Australian NRL in country manager Mark Mom said in the game of rugby league these days, in order to improve the actual game you need coaches that are properly accredited.

Australian NRL in PNG is funded under the Australian Government and one of its outcomes is to build a capacity for the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL).

Mom said the Australian NRL must make sure that they have the proper tools to increase coach education.

“We must ensure that PNGRFL has accredited coaches because the focus now in the NRL is how you coach, not what you coach.

Former Kumul and Australian NRL development officer David Westley said a coach must be a mentor and a father figure that everyone in their team will look up to. 

Westley currently facilitates the coaching accreditation course program in the country run by the PNGRFL in collaboration with the Australian NRL.

He is also the PNG Kumuls strength and conditioning coach.

He told coaches during the first coaching clinic recently that apart from coaching, there’re the outside factors and roles that coaches have to play as well.

The coaching accreditation course is the first stage of a three phase program to achieve a PNGRFL coaching certificate accreditation to the NRL.

Thirty one coaches from the Southern and New Guinea Islands confederates took part in the first clinic from March 6-8 in Port Moresby.

Twenty six coaches from the Highlands and Northern Confederates participated in the second clinic from March 10-12 in Goroka.

Among the participants were 13 former players from the Kumuls, SP Hunters and Digicel Cup, and six women club coaches.

Forty nine affiliated league presidents are expected to converge into Lae, Morobe Province this afternoon for the one day meeting starting at 9am on Saturday at the Lae International Hotel.

The two major highlights in the order of business will be the consideration of accounts and audits report and the election of Chairman and four Confederate Directors. 

Following the AGM and swearing-in of the chairman and four Confederate Directors will be a General Meeting.