‘Lae grounds not too bad’

By GABRIEL LAHOC
THE Lae rugby league field, which has been criticised as having a bad surface has been described by association president Russ Kaupa as better than other provincial leagues fields.
Kaupa in defending the state of the second biggest playing venue after Port Moresby, says LRL is also doing fine financially  and is on its way to securing good sponsorship and a re-entry of the Lae Bombers as a new franchise into the Digicel Cup semi-professional rugby league competition next season.
He described SNS Port Moresby Vipers coach Shane Morris’ attribution of his club’s exit from the finals two weekends ago, against the SBSL Mendi Muruks on the LRL playing surface as ‘hot air’.
“Despite what they say, other rugby league associations around the country do not have a standard like the LRL – which was affected by rain for the last three months. Other league’s playing fields are worse than Lae,” he said.
He said despite the effect of the Lae weather, the league administration was trying its best to maintain the standard of the field which was costing them more than K30,000 annually.
LRL, he said, spent more than K5,000 to patch the field in the last couple of weeks.
“The muddy field is costing me money, but we will work on upgrading the playing surface,” he said.
LRL is sponsored by the Structural Bridging System, whose owner Thomas Higgins is the franchise owner of the Muruks of Southern Highlands who are based in Lae.
Despite the sponsor, who was reportedly out of the country, for not meeting part of his sponsorship to LRL, Kaupa said the 2012 season for the league will end positively.
“Knowing Higggins, I know he would step in before we head into the finals and complete his outstanding of K70,000 which we wouild be used for the finals,” he said.
“We are alright financially, we have no big downfall for this season.”
There are five more match weekends and a couple of wash-out matches for its 12 clubs before the finals next month.
he president is adamant the LRL will conclude this season on a high note.