Hondina confident of season

By PARKER TAMBUA
PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chief executive Stanley Hondina is confident that the Digicel Cup season will still go ahead despite the surge in the Covid-19 cases in the country.
He told The National last week that PNGRFL and the PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) had a successful 2020 season despite going through the same situation last year.
Hondina said the season could kick-off in the coming months, pending approval from the relevant authorities.
“We are subject to all laws set by the responsible authorities, so we will ensure we seek approval properly before starting the 2021 Digicel Cup season,” he said.
“But we had done this (running the competition despite Covid-19) already last year. So we are confident that we can get the necessary approvals and get the season underway.”
The 2020 Digicel Cup season was delayed by three months after first case of the Covid-19 was identified in the country.
But PNGRFL and PNGNRLC had sought approval from the Office of the National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning before kicking off and ending the season in July and November respectively, with the Hela Wigmen claiming the premiership.
Meanwhile, when asked if it was possible for any late inclusions after a number of bidding teams had appealed PNGRFL’s decision, Hondina said the 12 teams from 2020 were final and that there would not be any new sides in this season.