BELOW is a story of Hidomo Rugby League Club in Milne Bay province who had the courage to take up the challenge to travel by sea to Port Moresby to take part in the Rigo Rice Cup competition and JT 9s.
It was a tough journey travelling by a dingy through rough seas, however the brave team took the courage to finally find their way to Port Moresby successfully and took part in the rugby league competitions.
The team led by Head Coach Noel Arisa embraced the opportunity as a way of exposing their local talent in the capital of Port Moresby.
“The journey began on the evening of December 28, 2024, as we set out from Alotau in Milne Bay Province, heading towards Port Moresby for the RIGO RICE CUP and JT Rugby League 9’s Tournament. My partner Sharon Asera, our son Julian Aria, and I, along with six of our youths and our beloved Milne Bay Flag, embarked on what would become an unforgettable adventure,” said Arisa.
“At 4:30 pm, we began the long drive from Alotau towards Gadaisu. The road was rugged, but the excitement kept us going as we reached the end of the highway by 6:30 pm. After a brief rest, we pushed forward at 9:30 pm, continuing by sea for another 90 minutes to reach Margarida, Central Province, around 11:30 pm. There, we rested for five hours, preparing for the next stage of our journey,” he continued.
“By 4:30 am on December 29th, we set off again, this time with the help of our brother Lincoln from Mailu, Central Province, who provided his dinghy for the sea leg. However, what was meant to be a few hours’ journey turned into a grueling 11-hour ride due to motor failure. The scorching sun beat down on us as we battled through the waves, but by 4:30 pm, we finally reached Kapari in Central Province,” Arisa continued.
“The waiting was far from over. We spent the night searching for a PMV (public motor vehicle) and, by around 11 pm, we found one. The road to Port Moresby was long, and we traveled throughout the night, eventually arriving at Gereka in Port Moresby until 6 am on December 30th as we had to spend the night sleeping on the highway alongside markets,” he went on.
“The tournament itself was not as tough as the journey we had endured; the real victory was bringing our youths to experience the spirit of rugby league in Port Moresby. Our Milne Bay flag flying high amongst the toughest parts of the city was more significant than any match result. The trip itself, with all its challenges, was a win for the youth, showing them the value of resilience and teamwork.”
“While we may not have come out on top in every game, the real triumph was the journey entailing both physically and emotionally of getting our youths to the tournament. A heartfelt thank you to Milne Bay and our Hohola Family, Erima Family, 2mile family, Pari Family, Tatana Family, Porebada Family, Mr. Ashan Numa and Family and all of my Port Moresby rugby league family, the support from social media, Post Courier Team and Ms. Claire Mahuta and EM TV crew and most importantly Our Heavenly Father for all the support and guidance. This journey will always be a reminder that the road to success is often paved with challenges, but the rewards are worthy in every step of the journey,” Arisa concluded.
