THE Papua New Guinea National Rugby Football League Competition (PNGNRLC) successfully hosted its 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference recently at Citi Boutique Hotel in Port Moresby, bringing together head coaches and assistant coaches from across the country for two days of learning, collaboration, and professional development.
The conference formed part of PNGRFL’s ongoing commitment to strengthening coaching standards and building the capacity of coaches involved in Papua New Guinea’s premier domestic women’s rugby league competition.
Opening the conference, PNGRFL Chief Operating Officer, Tony Archer, welcomed participants and outlined the importance of continuous development as the game continues to evolve both nationally and internationally.
Archer also delivered a comprehensive review of the 2025 Santos Cup season, providing coaches with an opportunity to reflect on key lessons, assess team performances and identify areas for improvement ahead of the 2026 campaign.
PNGRFL Chief Operating Officer, Tony Archer, said investing in coaches remains a key priority for the organization as it continues to strengthen both the male and female pathways throughout the country.
“The Santos Cup remains the pinnacle of our female national domestic rugby league in Papua New Guinea, and investing in our coaches is investing in the future of the game.
Through initiatives like this conference, we are ensuring our coaches are equipped with the knowledge, tools and leadership skills required to develop players and strengthen women’s rugby league throughout the country,” Archer said.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in a range of presentations and practical sessions delivered by experienced rugby league professionals and technical staff.
Key topics included game day processes, physical performance standards, coaching philosophy, media engagement and the use of Hudl, a performance analysis platform increasingly utilized across elite rugby league programs.
The first day focused on operational and performance-related aspects of coaching, with presentations from PNGRFL High Performance and Competitions personnel covering game management protocols and physical preparation standards required at the Santos Cup level.
Day two introduced coaches to Hudl, providing practical insight into video analysis and performance review tools. Participants also explored coaching philosophies and observed player testing sessions involving athletes identified within national pathways programs at the National Football Stadium.
PNGNRLC Coaching Development Manager, Stanley Gene, said the conference was designed to help coaches develop both technically and personally.
“Coaching is about more than preparing a team for game day. It’s about developing people, creating positive environments, and helping players reach their full potential. This conference provides coaches with the opportunity to learn from one another while embracing modern coaching methods that can elevate the standard of the Santos Cup women’s competition,” Gene said.
A highlight of the conference was a special session delivered by PNG Orchids Head Coach Craig Sandercock, who shared his experiences and insights into high-performance coaching, athlete management and the expectations required to succeed at the international level.
Former Kumul and current Lae Snax Tigers Women’s Assistant Coach, Mark Mexico, said quality coaching remains central to the continued growth of rugby league in Papua New Guinea.
“The conference highlighted how important strong leadership and quality coaching are at every level of the game. Opportunities like this allow coaches to continue developing their skills and return to their franchises with new ideas and approaches that can benefit players and communities,” Mexico said.
Mt Hagen Eagles Women’s Coach, Regila Wilfred, said the conference underscored the value of collaboration and knowledge sharing among coaches from around the country.
“Bringing coaches together from different regions creates opportunities to build relationships, exchange experiences and learn from one another. The level of enthusiasm and engagement throughout the conference showed a genuine commitment from coaches to improving player development and contributing to the future growth of rugby league in Papua New Guinea,” Wilfred said.
PNGRFL acknowledges the valued support of Santos, PacificAus Sports, KMHL and Digicel, whose ongoing investment in women’s rugby league pathways continues to create development opportunities for players, coaches, and officials across Papua New Guinea. Their partnership plays a critical role in strengthening the Santos Cup competition and supporting the growth of the women’s game from grassroots through to the elite level.