Roosters aid PNG juniors
AUSTRALIAN National Rugby League club
Sydney City Roosters is sponsoring an award for the top PNG
schoolboys’ league player each year to attend a pre-season
training camp with the club.
To be known as the Brad Fitler Award, in recognition of their
recently retired club, New South Wales, and Australian captain, it
will be bestowed on the best and fairest player of the national
Under 17 selection trials in September’s trials will be held in
Kimbe.
PNG Schoolboys chairman Iffysoe Segeyaro announced the finalising
of the award yesterday following agreement between officials of
the PNG Rugby Football League, Sydney City Roosters and himself.
Australian-based former Kumuls Jim Wilson was the main go-between
in the discussions.
Segeyaro said the winner of the award would, following the trip to
Australia, be eligible for selection in the PNG Under 18 team
which would participate in the Australian Affiliated Leagues
Championships next year.
This year’s championships is currently in progress in Townsville
where the best rugby league players the high school education
system has produced are on show in the hope of impressing the
litany of NRL scouts who are in attendance.
Segeyaro expressed gratitude to the Sydney City Roosters, Brad
Fitler and Wilson for providing the opportunity for young PNG
talents to be exposed to top-level rugby league and to build PNG’s
player base.
