Digicel Cup finals expected to be safe, entertaining

By PARKER TAMBUA
PAPUA New Guinea National Rugby League Competition manager Stanley Hondina is confident that the Digicel Cup finals over the next four weeks will be safe and entertaining.
Hodina, on Tuesday, said the Oil Search National Football Stadium (NFS) had good security measures in place to ensure the safety of players and supporters.
“We hosted the Digicel Cup finals here last year and we had no issues in terms of safety,” Hondina said.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy on violence and supporters have to behave themselves. NFS is not like other venues. We beef up security here.
“Team officials have been put on notice. Only players with valid passes will access the changing rooms and the paddock. They have to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner for supporters to follow.
“Sometimes supporters get too excited and that’s part of the game. But there are some instances where supporter excitement gets out of control which is discouraged. We encourage supporters to behave.”
Meanwhile, Hondina hopes Sunday’s elimination finals between the Rabaul Gurias and Hela Wigmen, and the Goroka Lahanis and Mt Hagen Eagles will see free-flowing football.
“There is a good mixture of teams from the Highlands with the Lae Tigers and Gurias in the mix,” he said.
“The game between defending champions Lahanis and the Eagles will be full of surprises. They’ll slug all over the park for the entire match.
“For Wigmen-Gurias match, they are both wearing the underdog tag but they are being backed to go deep into the finals so that fixture will be an exciting one as well.”