Broncos, Aviators arrive tomorrow

THE Brisbane Broncos and Nadi Aviators arrive in Port Moresby tomorrow ahead of Saturday’s double-header at the National Football Stadium.
The Broncos, who have named a full-strength squad, take on the SP PNG Hunters in a pre-season trial in the main game at 3pm while Fiji’s champion rugby league club the Aviators take on the Digicel Cup premiers the Lae Tigers in the earlier fixture at 1pm for the Melanesian Club Championship. “We are expecting a large turnout of fans at the airport to welcome our guests into the country on Thursday,” PNGRFL chief executive officer Reatau Rau said.
“Both teams will come out through the normal arrival area.”
The Broncos are scheduled to visit the Motu Koitabuan village at Vabukori to engage with the community at 9am on Friday.
“School children from nearby will also be attending,” Rau said.
Rau said the main part of the programme would be at 11am at the Vision City Mall when the Broncos and SP Hunters players appear to engage with fans.
“We expect this to be huge as well,” Rau said. “Players from both sides will be there to interact with the fans and take photos and sign autographs.”
Rau said on Saturday, gates at the Oil Search National Football Stadium will open at 11.30am.
“Buckets will be placed at all the entry points for those attending the games wishing to contribute towards late Kato Ottio’s appeal,” Rau said.
“Display and merchandising stalls will also be set up for fans to visit.
“The Broncos will be at full strength with all their NRL stars travelling up and this will be a good hit out for them as well as for the SP Hunters to start the season.”
He said the organisers would put on other activities and performances as part of the day’s programme.
Almost three quarters of tickets for the 15,000-seat NFS were sold with Rau urging fans to snap up the remaining several thousand before the event was sold out.
Tickets are up for sale at Ticketmastas outlets at Brian Bell (Boroko), Gordon and Vision City, Cool Stuff at Waterfront and J Mart at Erima. The match will also be televised live on Digicel’s TV Wan Action channel.