Call to take responsibility

GREETINGS to our rugby league family and welcome to our 18th edition of the “Fulltime Reserve” column for this year, in our favourite rugby league newspaper, The National.
This week the rugby league family in PNG, especially the fans and supporters, were grateful for the approval by the National Pandemic Controller, for the return of crowds to Digicel Cup games in Lae and Port Moresby, albeit at 30 per cent capacity.
While welcoming the decision, we would like to commend the partnership and commitment by all our stakeholders, especially the players and officials of the respective franchises and the match officials and administrators who have worked hard to comply with the ‘Banis Protocol’ guidelines and the additional measures required to restart and run the 2021 competition effectively for the first four rounds.
The PNGRFL and the PNGNRLC acknowledge also the ongoing support of the technical officials of the National Pandemic Control Centre, the PNG Sports Foundation and the various Provincial Health Authorities that continue to support and provide invaluable assistance to the various franchises and their players and officials to comply with the monitoring requirements of the Banis Protocols.
The PNGRFL also acknowledges the great work and commitment of all our member associations across the country and we commend them and all their stakeholders for starting their competitions and programmes over the last four weeks without any incidence of public health risk or other major issues.
The approval by the Pandemic Controller for crowds back at the games is a significant milestone and a vote of confidence for the sport and the rugby league family that would not have been possible without the dedicated collaboration of all our stakeholders.
The PNGRFL requests for your continued support and partnership as we navigate through the rest of the year as the risk and uncertainty of the pandemic is still real and it’s here.
Importantly, we appeal to all our fans and supporters that will be turning up in Lae and Port Moresby to support your respective teams to exercise caution and discipline; and adhere to the public health safety guidelines at the respective venues.
Let us all work together to ensure that we safeguard the health and wellbeing of all our stakeholders and also to ensure that the trust the authorities have placed in our sport is upheld so that we can all enjoy our footy together in a safe environment.
It is important that all our stakeholders continue to work together effectively to navigate through the pandemic so that our planned rugby league calendar and work programmes for this year can continue to be delivered.
With all our domestic and international programmes finalised for this year, the PNGRFL is mindful that any further disruption could have dire consequences for the rest of the season, especially with the 2021 Rugby League World Cup planning already on foot.
We will continue to update all our stakeholders on any changes to our calendar.
Until next week, may the grace, love and care of our Good Lord be with you.

Cheers,

Sandis