Hunters to renegotiate new Q-Cup participation contract

By HENRY MORABANG
PAPUA New Guinea Rugby League chairman Sandis Tsaka, during the presentation of K3 million Hunters sponsorship by Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd (KHPL) last week, said the club will renegotiate for a new Intrust Super Cup participation contract from 2019 onwards
Tsaka said it cost K7 million annually to field the team in the ISC which was burdensome but such sponsorships by KHPL and other stakeholders including the national government through the National Gaming Control Board.
SP Brewery has the naming rights while KPHL’s sponsorship makes them the gold sponsor.
He said the participation agreement for five years from 2014-2018 expires at the end of this season.
The agreement covers the cost of travel and hosting visiting teams plus other associated costs.
Tsaka said PNGRFL and the Hunters board would work in collaboration to ensure the team’s continuity in participating in the Queensland Cup competition.
“Annually it costs about K5 to K7 million to have the Hunters participate in the Q-Cup and our five-year participation agreement with the QRL actually lapses this year and we will review our participation agreement,” Tsaka said.
“As you know, we were tied into a five-year programme where unlike other Q-Cup teams, we meet the costs for all the Australian teams coming up and us going down so it is also unfair on us and it has been a burden.
“It costs a lot of money to run the Hunters club so with the support from our partners and sponsors we have been able to move forward.
“When we review the agreement this year we hope we can find a way to sustain the club going forward.
“With the success that the club has had in terms of player pathway development, winning the premiership and building a credible brand, this has actually allowed us to engage with more partners to help run the franchise,” Tsaka said.