THE Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) has acknowledged its lack of focus on player welfare and retirement, despite its aim to have a team compete in Australia’s National Rugby League competition.
In its recently launched strategic plan for 2023-2027, the PNGNRLC has prioritized working closely with franchises to provide deserving contracts to players.
PNG Rugby Football League CEO Stanley Hodina emphasized the importance of addressing player welfare and professionalizing the sport.
“Player’s welfare is one of the key things that we’re trying to address at this level. We are all as a team working together to make our competition better and more professional,” he said.
“If the players are looked after well and treated properly then we believe they will display a good entertainment. For the 80 minutes to come out with good quality is the back end working that needs to go, that’s club professionalism.
While the league cannot address players’ lives after their careers, the franchises can provide support and guidance in that area.
Hodina also stated that the league office will provide necessary support to franchises to address player welfare issues, but acknowledged the challenge of getting franchises to “buy into” the strategic plan.
In addition to addressing player welfare, the strategic plan also includes the introduction of a women’s semi-professional league and the re-introduction of youth competitions, to be managed partly by the PNGNRLC franchise in their home provinces.
