Lagatois could sail in 2011

By KEVIN TEME
CHAIRMAN of the PNG National Rugby League board Don Fox is impressed with the presentation  by representatives from new franchise team, the Central Lagatois.
The Lagatois are one of the three franchise teams that have expressed interest in joining the PNGNRL competition that will kick off in April.
The other two teams are the Hela Warriors and the Gulf Isapeas.
While representatives from most of the current PNGNRL teams were present at the board meeting in Lae on Saturday, Central Lagatois’ presence was felt when Ivan Ravu, representing the new franchise, put on a classy presentation for the Lagatois.
“I am impressed with the Lagatois’ presentation and it was done perfectly however, we will not come up with a decision until such time when all requirements are fulfilled,” Fox said.
Fox said Gulf and Hela were not present at the board meeting.
However, they had their written submission sent to them but he expected them to do their presentation in person at the next PNGNRL board meeting in Port Moresby.
Fox said the Lagatois confirmed their sponsorship and were ready to compete next year but all the new entries including Lagatois still had to complete their registering requirements in order to be part of a revamped 10-team competition next season.
“We are fairly confident that the nine teams from last year will remain but it all depends on paying their fees.” That is why we are also putting the new General Manager’s position recently to manage all these,” Fox said.
Meanwhile when Central Lagatois representative, Ivan Ravu was contacted yesterday, he confirmed his attendance at the PNGNRL board meeting in Lae on the weekend.
Asked if a squad was put in place? Ravu said 70 members of the Lagatois squad has been selected from the Alphones Moroi Southern Regional nines tournament and will be going into early training in January next year.
“We will start our training early next year and few more trial games will be made before we can come up with the final squad,” Ravu said.
The former PNG Kumuls coach said Southern Region had many potential players and most of the time they were been overlooked.
“We will concentrate at the rural parts of the Southern Region as well as the Alphonse Moroi Cup to tap in those hidden ones expose them at the higher level. I believe in three years time we should put up a very competitive team in the PNGRL competition,” Ravu said.
Ravu said currently the team is working on the budget, finances and certain information that has to be submitted before 22nd of January before their fate can be decided.