Rugby league in PNG has received a major boost from the Australian Government, with a $5 million investment into a new PNG NRL Bid Academy.
Over two hundred of the country’s most promising young women and men rugby league players will descend on the National Sports Institute in Goroka this Saturday and Sunday (20-21 July) for the inaugural PNG NRL Bid National School’s Championships.
The Championships conclude the first phase of the PNG NRL Bid Academy program which has comprised a 16-week program across six provinces including Goroka, Kokopo, Lae, Mount Hagen, Port Moresby Central Province and Port Moresby NCD. Over the period the Academy coached players in the age groups of U15, U17 and U19 boys and U18 girls.
The Academy aims to identify and coach the next generation of talented rugby league players in Papua New Guinea to feed into PNG Rugby League’s elite pathways.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes, who will launch the Academy and tournament in Goroka on Saturday, said the Academy is helping to create valuable pathway systems in PNG rugby league.
“Australia’s investment in this program speaks to our strong bonds through sport – you won’t find more passionate Rugby League fans than you will in Australia and Papua New Guinea.”
“I am looking forward to watching some of Papua New Guinea’s best talent, both boys and girls, playing this weekend.”
The PNG NRL Bid Academy Coaching and Pathways Manager Joe Grima, one of Australia’s most experienced junior pathways coaches, was equally excited to see the competition phase.
“The tournament in Goroka is an incredibly exciting opportunity for these young women and men to showcase the talent and the skills they have developed over the past four months” Grima said.
“This is the first time a structured, rugby league pathways program, based on Australian models and adapted for PNG, has been delivered across the country.”
McKelly Dencil, a grade ten student at Hagen Park Secondary School will be donning the Western Highlands Academy colours in the female under 18 division and was excited about the PNG NRL Bid academy championships.
“I’m very proud to participate in the PNG NRL Bid academy. Rugby League has always been my dream. I wish to represent my country one day, and I thank the PNG NRL Bid Academy and the Australian Government for this opportunity” said McKelly.
The tournament will be broadcasted on TVWan Sports 3 and livestreamed on the PNG NRL Bid Official Facebook page from 9am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday, with the finals taking place from 2.30pm on Sunday.
