PNG Rugby Football League Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hondina has praised the Southern Highlands Provincial Government and the contractor building the new Muruks Stadium for delivering an international standard facility.
Hondina made the remarks while speaking as a special guest at the second Provincial Assembly meeting for the Southern Highlands Provincial Government this year. He was invited alongside PNGRFL Academy Pathway Manager Joe Grima to discuss the national academy pathway program and how it can collaborate with the provincial government to develop rugby league academies in schools across the province.
Addressing the Provincial Executive Council, Hondina said he had visited the construction site and was impressed by the quality of work. He noted that the field surface is being built according to the standards set by the people from the Santos National Football Stadium. Once complete, he said, the stadium will be capable of hosting Hunters and Kumuls matches.
Governor William Powi has vowed to bring the provincial team, the Mendi Muruks, back to the field next year. The provincial government has also committed K500,000 in continued support for the team.
Prior to the PNGRFL delegation’s visit, the provincial government had already committed K1 million to schoolboys rugby league. The province is preparing to develop young players for the NRL PNG Chiefs when the franchise enters the competition in 2028.
“Before the PNGRFL academy visited our province, we committed this money to run school leagues,” Governor Powi said. “Now our ambitions and the vision for the PNGRFL academy pathway program align, and we are prepared for this.”
Local Level Government (LLG) presidents who are members of the PEC also vowed to provide land in their respective districts to build rugby league fields.
Hondinasaid he was impressed with the province’s level of preparation and again praised Governor Powi and the provincial government.
The provincial assembly passed a resolution covering three key areas:
1. Rollout of the rugby league academy
2. Completion of the stadium
3. Return of the Mendi Muruks to home ground in Mendi for 2027 season & beyond.