Big boss arrives

 THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League announced the appointment of its new chief executive officer Bob Cutmore yesterday in Port Moresby.

Cutmore takes over from Shane Morris, who acted in the position after Brad Tassell’s resignation in March.

The Australian, who has had a long association with the country stretching back to the early 1970s when he worked as a teacher in Rabaul, is tasked with reviewing all the national programmes from juniors/ schoolboys to senior and women’s competitions.

Cutmore was appointed for a three-year term by a PNGRFL board meeting in August but was only able to take up his post last week after delays clearing his visa and work permit.

PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka hailed Cutmore’s inclusion in the sport, saying the former Brisbane Broncos football manager (1988-1997) had the credentials and necessary background for the job.

“From the 64 applicants, only six were short-listed and through the process, Bob Cutmore was the successful applicant, with his experience in rugby league in the country. He ticked all the boxes,” Tsaka said.

Cutmore, who was the Kumuls 2013 World Cup squad team manager, recently served as chief operating officer for the Broncos leagues club last year. 

He said the PNG Hunters, Kumuls and development programmes needed to be reviewed now for 2016.

“We have to look ahead, past 2016 and beyond to develop the next batch of Kumuls and Hunters through our development and pathway programmes,” Cutmore said.

“A lot of the focus was on the Hunters this year.

“We should look to the Digicel Cup and create local league development strategies to breed the next crop of representative players,” he said.

“The Hunters performed exceptionally this year in the Queensland Cup but to bid for the next level, which is the Australian National Rugby League, we have to win the Q-Cup.”

On restructuring the PNGRFL and making it a better organisation, he said standards would be set and all involved with the sport’s administration would need to lift.