League refs cry foul over lack of consultation

By KEVIN TEME
THE PNG Rugby Football League Referees Association is seeking an explanation from the PNG National Rugby League about why they were not consulted before going ahead to conduct a referees’ clinic for the Digicel Cup challenge this season.
The PNG NRL and the PNG NRL Bid Team are jointly conducting the training programme for the 21 referees in PNG to improve their skills at the Port Moresby International School. The workshop started yesterday.
Some of the referees will be officiating in the Digicel Cup challenge this season.
PNG NRL Bid Team development manager Shane Morris is delivering the programme with the competition with the help of Paul Oliver, who is the referees’ development officer for the Queensland rugby league.
However, the PNGRFL Referees Association executives met briefly yesterday to resolve the matter, citing certain powers had been removed by the PNG NRL.
“The PNG NRL is abusing the power of the PNGRF Referees Association because we have never consulted about a referees’ clinic.
“We appreciate them for conducting the clinic because it is for the betterment of the referees. However, they should have at least let us know of what they were doing,” referees association secretary Joe Peregua said.
In a message sent to Peregua, PNG NRL general manager Hubert Warupi said the PNG NRL was only trying to improve and refine the skills of the referees since the referees association was not active in helping them.
“This statement is an insult to us. We will meet the PNG NRL acting chairman Sudhir Guru to iron out the matter.