League revamp

By JACK AMI
THE Papua New Guinea National Rugby League will institute changes designed to improve its competition, the Digicel Cup, and its management at the behest of the PNGRFL.
The restructure was pushed by the sport’s governing body after what it claimed were administrative issues that had impacted negatively on the semi-professional competition particularly over the last three seasons that had tarnished the image of the sport.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka in letter dated March 17 to the PNG NRL board stated his concern with outstanding issues such as player and crowd violence and intimidation that had not been adequately addressed over successive seasons.
Tsaka made recommendations to the PNG NRL board, which comprises a representative of the 11 franchises, and headed by Sudhir Guru, who resigned last week.
The 13-page letter outlining the PNGRFL’s recommendations and sent to the franchises, the PNGRFL shared its views and recommendations on the way forward for the Digicel Cup.
Tsaka said the decision on the PNG NRL which had been accepted by the franchises, was effective as of Wednesday (March 29).
The 2017 season is scheduled to start on April 22.
He said the new PNGNRLC would adopt the new structure operating independently but in consultation with PNGRFL.
Tsaka said that the recommendations were the way forward for PNGNRL competition with the restructure to be implemented over the 2017 season and beyond.
The PNGRFL’s recommendations include; the need for the PNG NRL’s aims and objectives to be aligned with the PNGRFL’s national strategic vision and plans for rugby league in PNG; having the former PNG NRL abolished as an entity and replaced by a new NRL competition competition and management sanctioned and by the PNGRFL but independently administered under a competition charter, maintaining the competition rules, a code of conduct and a judicial code and process; agreements that bound franchises to adhering to the said codes, values and standards.
The PNGRFL recommendation also allowed for an independent competition management structure that “guarantees integrity, transparency and fair-play and is effectively capacitated to manage the competition in accordance with the set rules and standards.
The interim management structure would comprise of an executive board made up of an independent chairman appointed by the PNGRFL, a franchise representative (Andy Hetra) and a sponsor’s representative (Digicel/SP Brewery).
The new body is headed by Adrian Chow as chairman and supported by the PNGRFL administration (Tsaka and CEO Reatau Rau), judiciary, referees and development officers and affiliate leagues and officials in the provinces.
Tsaka said the PNGRFL would work with their stakeholders including, sponsors and franchise owners to come up with a new governance and management structure for the PNG NRL together with a new competition policy and charter for an improved model that would enhance the value and growth of the competition.