Lam: Keep politics out of league

By KEVIN TEME
People with rugby league at heart must be nominated at the PNGRFL annual general meeting in Lae tomorrow.
The time has come also to put all PNGRFL in-house matters to rest when the long-delayed AGM starts at 10am at the Melanesian Hotel.
PNG Kumuls coach Adrian Lam who flew into the country earlier this week conveyed the sentiments yesterday.
“Politics has played too big a part in PNG rugby league and it has dragged down the code in recent times and it’s time we kicked it into touch,” Lam said.
  “It is nearly two years now that we have all suffered and our beloved game has been brought to its knees.
“The sport belongs to the people and the country and not to one or few individuals.
“It is time for everyone to put aside their differences, agendas and selfishness and put our national sport first.
“In my opinion, since the politics started two years ago, within the PNGRFL (executive), I feel that we have suffered incredibly and the level and standard of league has dropped significantly.”
Lam said now there was a great opportunity to vote wisely for the betterment of the game and select a group of people who had the vision to move the sport forward.
“The selected people must have the best interest of the game at heart and be able to take rugby league forward in a positive way leading us into a bright future,” he said.
To the leagues who will attend the meeting, Lam said: “The key is we have choice and an opportunity to vote the right members on to the PNGRFL board.”
The former Queensland No.7 is confident that once a good board is put in place, it would help all stakeholders and be able to compete with other big rugby league playing nations such as Australia, New Zealand and England.
With the rugby league World Cup in England next year Lam said PNGRFL needed to get back on track to ensure league did not lose more credibility.