Gulf plans women’s league

By JACK AMI
President of the newly established Gulf Provincial Rugby League Emmanuel Morehari is keen on developing the women’s competition in his province.
Morehari said he was determined to comply with the directives set by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Southern Confederation and one of which was to develop the women’s competition.
Southern Confederation director Gwaibo Mairi advised Morehari to introduce the women’s competition in the province this season.
Mairi said Southern Confederation was promoting gender equality and other women’s issues in the community.
Mairi said the women’s sport was being focused with national tournaments and the creation of the PNG Orchids which would inspire more young women to play rugby league.
“For too long women and girls have been neglected when it comes to playing sports. Rugby league is our number one sport and so it only makes sense that we provide an opportunity for women in our communities to play,” he said.
Morehari said he wanted to see more coastal women playing rugby league and selected in Southern confederate side and the PNG Orchids.
Mairi said Helen Abau’u was the only Papuan woman who made the PNG Orchids with the majority of the squad from the Highlands region.
He said Gulf had some big players that needed to be identified and developed for the Southern trials in mid-June in Port Moresby.
Morehari said with the support of Southern Confed and Gulf Isapea chairman Jacob Ivaroa, the season would kick off in Kerema first.
Morehari said that only four teams would start off the season with an expected increase in teams next year.