Developing junior rugby league, Stenza’s way

By JUNIOR PHILIP
IN the bustling Port Moresby suburb of Gerehu, 22-year-old Stenza Tandoa is sowing the seed to lift the profile and level of the sport in his country.
Two years ago, Tandoa founded the Early Childhood Rugby League Competition to instil basic rugby league skills in children aged between six and 12.
It focuses on fundamental skills such as catching, passing, and kicking. His programme is much different from the schoolboys’ competition for those aged 14 to 18.
“The children are the future of rugby league in the country. The ECRLC gives children something positive for their health and well-being, and discipline to become good members of society. It also helps steer them away from alcohol, drugs, and crime.”
The man from Southern Highlands and Enga started playing rugby league during his teenage years, representing the Paga Panthers in the PRL competition, then spending the 2022 season with the EPG Mioks in the Digicel Cup competition.
In 2022, he started his began the ECRLC with a few children’s teams in Gerehu. Last year, it increased to 16 teams, including ones from outside Gerehu.
Most of the games in 2022 were played at the Gerehu Secondary School oval. The grand final played at the Santos National Football Stadium was won by the Gerehu Young Guns.
The competition last year was bigger and better, with more community involvement giving exposure to the competition. The grand final was won by the Junior Nautana Rooster which beat the Nine-Mile Junior Giants.
Later last year, he organised an Under-12 Christmas Pikinini Cup won by the 8 Street Dogs.

“ The children are the future of rugby league in the country. The competition offers children something positive for their health and well-being, and discipline to become good members of society.”

Stenza tells of the karim spikes tradition, which means carrying the boots of a player one looks up to. The younger player carries the boots of the older player before and after a match as a mark of respect. It is also a gesture to show that the older player is regarded as a role model who is passing down his knowledge of the game to the younger one.
For example, Stenza used to carry his older brothers’ boots whenever he went to watch their games. Now his younger brother carries his.
His single parent mum supports his efforts. So too are his friends who assist him in running the games. Of course Stenza had his share of challenges too, as to be expected in organising a programme involving children. Finance and the availability of venues were his biggest challenges.
As he looks forward to a bigger 2024 season, Stenza hopes that National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop will support the competition. Stenza has also approached business houses for sponsorships.
He knows that the competition’s motto “we believe in foundation” underlines the role it plays in shaping the future of rugby league in PNG.
Rugby league legends Mal Meninga and Johnathan Thurston have always supported efforts to have well-run junior rugby league systems to develop the sport at least close to the level enjoyed by Australia and New Zealand.
And Stenza knows development programmes such as this will provide longevity and competitiveness, as the country hopes to be picked as the NRL’s 18th team by 2027.
He is helping children to not only develop their sporting skills but also to mold their characters to be responsible and disciplined citizens who will one day proudly carry PNG’s flag in rugby league.