Sandis Tsaka

The team was announced by chairman of the PNG Rugby Football League, Sandis Tsaka, in front of naming rights sponsor, National Gaming Control Board and other stakeholders.

The NGCB PNG Prime Minister’s XIII will take on the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII at the National Football Stadium on September 23.

“This is a very strong team that was put together by the selection panel chaired by PNG LNG Kumuls coach, Michael Marum.

“It has the full blessing of all key stakeholders,” said Tsaka.

Rau extended his appreciation to every Papua New Guinean and in particular, the franchises that supported the eight teams this season.

“The PNG National Rugby League Competition which runs the Digicel Cup became part of the PNGRFL structure this season.

“We had strict guidelines and proper competition manuals to follow. The eight teams that participated followed these rules and guidelines which made the competition a big success.

“It is a historic moment for the PNGRFL, our partners and everyone in the country for the Hunters to be the first team in the ISC grand-final,” said PNGRFL chairman, Sandis Tsaka.

“On behalf of everyone in the country, I congratulate Michael Marum and the team for delivering this result.

“The time, effort and sacrifices you, your coaching staff and players put in has resulted in this historic result and we congratulate you all for this,” Tsaka said.

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.

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.

Tsaka was re-appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lae, during the weekend, for another three-year term.

Tkatchenko highlighted that the successful AGM shows that the management from the board level down to the chief executive officer have the confidence of all the teams’ presidents throughout the country.

Tkatchenko said this shows that rugby league has now taken the lead in good governance and good sport.

“Hopefully we can build and grow our ‘people to people’ relations through our shared love for rugby league.

“I hope that as both teams assemble in Fiji for the match, that they take some time to appreciate each other’s stories, customs and embrace our common heritage, learn from each other and hopefully form friendships that go beyond the football field and the weekend,” said Tsaka.

“It was my humble privilege to witness today (Monday) the successful graduation of the 12 students from Enga who have been studying Innovative Agriculture Technology; a dynamic work based training program implemented in partnership between the EPG (Enga Provincial Government) and the Enga IAI (Innovative Agriculture Industry) project at Taluma in Sirunki,” said EPG Deputy Administrator Sandis Tsaka.   

Cutmore’s contract was officially terminated last week after serving as CEO for just over a year with the PNGRFL. Cutmore was the first CEO of the PNGRFL to be terminated.

Tsaka said the decision to terminate Cutmore was made on the night of Monday 14 November at the PNGRFL board meeting.

“In a nutshell, when the CEO was first appointed in October 2015, the PNGRFL appointed him setting key priority areas and performance indicators that we felt were necessary to move the game forward.