Confederation endorses Southern Super League

A COMPETITION, Southern Super League, yesterday received endorsement from Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League’s Southern Confederation with 10 clubs confirmed to take part from this month.
Interim Southern Super League chairman and Gulf Isou coach Bagelo Solien said the tier-two competition would help raise standards and prepare players for semi-professional duties.
“Most franchises start with more than 80 players and they cut down to their final squad of 30,” he said.
“But those 50 left will be the ones coming back every year before age finally catches up with them.
“Every year, players attend trials with franchises and they never meet the criteria because they don’t play and train in a competition like the Digicel Cup.
“I’ve coached at the confederation and Digicel Cup level, and I’ve seen players promoted because we think they are good enough.
“But I’ve noticed that they are not good enough. This competition is what we are trying to achieve which is above the local club level and right under the Digicel Cup.”
The competition will see Southern-based franchises in the Digicel Cup participate through their development and reserve teams along with affiliated leagues and selected sides.
Southern Confederation director Gwaibo Mairi said that the competition would be used as a selection pool for franchises in the region.