By CHARLIE DUMAVI
AFTER over three years of waiting for an approval by Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC), the EMK Sepik pride has been finally accepted to take part in the Digicel Cup season 2023.
This confirms Pride to be officially a franchise club to compete in the highest level of rugby league competition in the country amongst 12 other exciting franchises.
PNGNRLC Board Director, Lorna McPhersion officially confirmed this in a media conference today.
“We (PNGNRLC) are really delighted to welcome the Sepik Pride who will participate in the competition for the first time this year. To see a new brand of rugby league brought in as a new Momase franchise is really something that is really exciting and I am sure everybody in Sepik is also excited about this.
I also want to congratulate the team and the franchises for the efforts you have put thus far as to get into the Digicel Cup is not an easy task. It is extremely hard to do so congratulations,” McPhersion said.
Meanwhile, McPhersion announced that Wagi Tumbe is terminated from participating in season 2023 due to non-compliance.
She said Tumbe was excluded this year because they failed to field a team against Lae Snax Tiger in Lae rugby league ground last year.
PNGRFL Chief Executive officer Stanley Hondina while commenting on the Tumbe’s exclusion also stated that there was no case of forfeiture similar to what Tigers did when Tumbe failed to field a team in Lae, thus this is a history in PNGNRLC.
“Our due process and participant agreement that they signed is to comply by our competition documents. Therefore, the board saw it fit and proper to terminate their license. We are sending the message loud and clear that the standards and compliance are there and we expect the teams to aspire to the new standards we are bringing,” Hondina said.
“We can’t be doing same old things we’ve being doing. We have to be better, and for us to be better, hard decisions have to be made in the interest of all stake holders involved,” He added.
He further said Tumbe is appealing in terms of grievances procedures that is empowered by the competition constitution and “as per that option, dialogues will be established.” However due to time factor, the final 12 teams are confirmed for season 2023 when the date is announced.
Hondina and McPhersion jointly congratulated the Sepik Pride for coming on board and also challenged them to step up to the set standard and lift the game.
Sepik pride have been running the annual Sepik 9’s competition in Wewak and also taking part in local competitions around the country and it will be exciting to finally see them competing in the Digicel Cup season 2023.
Sepik Pride Chief Executive Officer, Arnold Krewanty commented by saying “we are actually ready; we actually ticked the whole of the requirement that have been given to us by the Digicel Cup committee”.
Season 2023 teams include; Kroton Hela Wigmen, Agrmark Raboul Gurias, PRK Mendi Muruks, Lae SnaxTigers, PRK Gulf Isou, Central Dabaris, Kimbe Cutters, Bintagor Goroka Lahanis, EPG Enga Mioks, Wamp Nga Mt Hagen Eagles, NCDC-Moni Plus Vipers and EMK Sepik Pride.
