Competition tells teams to use 18th man as ball boy during games

DIGICEL Cup players named as the 18th man for their teams will now take up the role of ball boy from this weekend, according to an official.
Papua New Guinea Rugby League National Rugby League Competitions manager Stanley Hondina said yesterday that announcement followed concerns from round one which saw linesmen also perform the role of ball boy.
Hondina said their regular ball boys had been suspended under the game’s “Banis Protocols” over the Covid-19 pandemic.
“On the ball-boy issue, every team are supposed to provide one ball boy, the 18th in the squad is supposed to be the ball boy,” he said.
“We’ve realised that we’ve talked to the teams separately.
“So when they come here (Sir John Guise Stadium) to have their captain’s run, we’ll talk to them and explain what the policies are in the designated clean zone.
“So if Isou are playing the Dabaris, the 18th men for both teams should be the ball boy. It’s new to the teams.
“So in round one, we failed to do it but we will now talk to the clubs and improve in this regard. We can’t take any ball boys onto the field as it is a designated clean zone.”
Hondina said the clean zones included the field and its surrounding areas and was restricted to players, match officials and other authorised personnel.
It is a new feature of the game which teams and official will have to adjust to.