Broncos legends coming

PETERO Civoniceva, Terry Matterson, Julian O’Neill, Scott Prince, Kevin Campion and David Stagg are some of the Brisbane Broncos greats confirmed to face former Papua New Guinea Kumuls in a legends match at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Aug 31.
This was confirmed during the announcement of a trial match between the Brisbane Broncos NRL women’s team and the Oil Search Orchids. Both matches will be played at the NFS.
The NRLW clash will be the Broncos’ first hit-out of 2019 as they preparing for their premiership defence which begins in mid-September.
A similar trial played between the Broncos and the Orchids last year in Brisbane proved a highly successful event for both teams.
Australia’s Office of the Pacific is partnering with the Broncos to put on both games, funded through the Australia-Pacific Sports Linkages Programme.
The partnership will also support a number of off-field activities in Port Moresby across the weekend, including skills clinics and community outreach, and a welcome reception for the four teams hosted by the Australian High Commission.
Brisbane Broncos NRLW chief executive Tain Drinkwater said the double-header would further strengthen links between the Broncos and PNG.
“We have developed a fantastic relationship with PNG in recent years and these games are the latest part of a partnership that we value really highly,” said Drinkwater. “Last year’s trial against the Orchids set us up for a history-making NRLW season, and we are confident that it will be the same case in 2019.
“The team is really excited about making the trip north for the events that will happen across the community over the weekend.
“The legends game promises to make for a massive double-header of rugby league that all the PNG locals will really enjoy, and we hope all of our fans will head to the stadium and show their support
“We are delighted the Australian Government is backing these games as part of its broader Pacific Step-Up programme.”
PNG Rugby Football League chief executive Reatau Rau said: “It will definitely be a big thing for us. We are really growing the women’s game in PNG right now having just concluded our Coca-Cola Schools Regional and National Championships which included the Under-18 girls. We expect some of these talented young girls to be selected and experience being part of the Oil Search PNG Orchids team when they face the Broncos NRLW team.
“There is an appetite for the growth of the women’s game. It is one of the fastest growing programmes in PNG right now. This trial match will inspire a lot of new girls to come through our set development pathways and systems. Out of this, we set the basis of a new and competitive Orchids team for the international events scheduled at end of this year. It is critical for us to continue having more of these international matches for our women’s game leading up to 2020 and then the 2021 Women’s Rugby League World Cup. We thank the Broncos NRLW team for giving our women another opportunity.
“We expect the usual reception that our people provide for the NRL Stars in PNG when the Broncos legends touch down in Port Moresby with their women’s team.
“The Broncos hold a special place, having a big NRL fans base in PNG as seen last year when their NRL team toured here. We would also like to acknowledge the support of Orchids major sponsor Oil Search Ltd, support sponsors Boroko Motors, Coca-Cola, and specific event partners, Airways Hotel and Air Niugini for making this event happen.”