One team for WHP

CONFUSION still reigns in Western Highlands on who is the legitimate rugby league  team in this year’s PNGNRL inter-city cup.
Both Wantok Gaming System Mt Hagen Kuris and Wamp Nga Mt Hagen Eagles have claimed to be the the official team from the province.
Kuris, who have secured a three-year sponsorship from WGS maintain they should continue to represent the  WHP while the Eagles under chairman Peter Bebi countered that they were ousted from the competition by default and therefore had a legitimate case for re-entry.
Bebi, who registered the Eagles with Investment Promotion Authority, claimed that his board are the sole owners of the Eagles name any moves to take on the name without their consent were illegal.
In a letter to PNGNRL chairman Don Fox on Jan 21, Wamp Nga Holdings Limited chairman Wai Rapa confirmed his sponsorship for Mt Hagen Eagles for the next three years starting this year.
Rapa said the naming rights fee of K90,000 would be deposited in inter-city cup trust account, and the company would provide additional funding to meet the operation costs of the club.
Bebi welcomed the news, saying  Wamp Nga’s sponsorship should put the naming right issue to rest.
Fox has urged both camps to resolve their differences and for the province to have only one team.
Fox was adamant there could not be two teams from WHP.
Bebi insisted that Fox honours a consent order (2010) on terms that the Eagles would participate this season by securing a major sponsor.