Franchises need improvement

Greetings to all our rugby league family and welcome to our 26th edition of Fulltime Reserve, a weekly column to discuss all matters rugby league in our favourite newspaper The National.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) congratulates the Lae Tigers for being the first team to reach the grand final.
PNGRFL also congratulates the Hela Wigmen and the Rabaul Gurias who will meet in Sunday’s preliminary final.
Whilst the season has been great, an ongoing issue of concern for the game is the difference in the professionalism, management and performance of the different provincial franchises.
Our high performance team’s engagements with each of the franchises this year has highlighted many underlying operational issues and challenges faced by many of these franchises.
PNGRFL and the PNG National Rugby league Competition (PNGNRLC) will review the findings and recommendations and put in place guidelines and processes to improve the management and operations of the franchises and the competition.
PNGRFL’s vision is for PNGNRLC to be among the world’s best rugby league competitions. To achieve this will require significant reforms and investment to improve the operations and management of PNGNRLC and the franchises.
The experiences and lessons learned through the SP Hunters programme, NRL and Super League are being adopted and implemented across the PNGNRLC operations and the franchises to improve the competition.
PNGRFL’s objective is also for the franchises to become the elite sporting entities that provide high performance, game development and pathways for the affiliate leagues, schools and grassroots game in their respective areas.
To effectively do this, the provincial franchises are being required to implement management and commercial structures that are reflective of the all-of-game operational strategy. Key among these strategies will be for provincial franchises:

• To participate through a governance structure that is inclusive of all stakeholders in the province and consistent with the PNGRFL’s reforms;
• To be based in their respective provinces to support and promote the development of the game and infrastructure there; and,
• To have clear operational guidelines for both football and club management in line with the sport’s national and international policies and best practices for both the club, players, officials, staff and board.

The details on these on-going requirements will be made available to all new and existing intending franchises for next year once finalised and approved. Join us on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to follow this and more rugby league stories.
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Until next week, may the grace, love and care of our Good Lord be with you.

Cheers,
Sandis