Bid concept for juniors on target

THE PNG National Rugby League Bid programme to develop and promote the sport among juniors is on target in pilot provinces.
The PNG NRL Bid national coordinator Ifisoe Segeyaro confirmed this in Goroka yesterday, when stating that accreditation courses for coaches, referees, teachers and safety officers were completed.
He said the school challenge would get off the ground in selected schools this month before selecting players for a camp next month.
Segeyaro said this after visiting schools in Mendi and Ialibu, Southern Highlands, this month.
“The courses were conducted for all teachers in schools under the programme so they can equip themselves with the necessary skills to impart to students at early stages of development,” Segeyaro said.
He noted that it was good for the programme to run along with a schoolboys’ competition sanctioned by PNGRFL on weekends, an initiative of Segeyaro back in 2004.
He said schools in Mendi and Ialibu were excited to start the schoolboys and junior competition after the bid programme.
“This will further enhance the skills and maintain the interests. I am grateful to the PNGNRL Bid to give the opportunity to travel around PNG and speak to technical people on the ground to take ownership of the programme,” Segeyaro said.
The former PNG Kumul five-eighth said after assessing the performance of the programme at the end of the year, it would be extended to other provinces next year.
He said the NRL Bid was here to stay for as long as the national government had its ambitions to get a NRL licence because one of the main prerequisites was to have a strong junior rugby league development programme and competition in PNG.
“The all schools Bid programme is the beginning towards having a strong junior base competition,” he said.
“This year’s programme will cover the U16 boys. They will hold their own competition to select a probables and possibles side for NRL Bid selectors to select a crop of top players to a top camp in December,” Segeyaro said.
While in camp, notable NRL coaches will teach the skills and train the boys on the trade of rugby league, including nutrition programmes to prepare them for NRL clubs.
The week-long camp will include options for scholarships and scouts for raw talents who will be available for top crop of players showing promise.