Leagues urged to follow model

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has appealed to all leagues around the country to appreciate the new strategic plan under the ‘New Ireland Model’ and be affiliated.
PNGRFL game development manager Toksy Nema said at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that the model allowed for leagues in rural PNG to directly affiliate with the code’s governing body, leading to increased participation.
“We want to increase participation and we want to capture as much talents in rural PNG playing in the third tier of our competition structure in the country,” he said.
“The New Ireland Model provides a good opportunity for leagues in rural areas to play rugby league and be recognised.
“It provides a clear pathway to make their way up and based on their skills, they can make it all the way to the SP Hunters and PNG Kumuls.
“There is a pathway for girls too, they can make it to Orchids and represent PNG.
“So I appeal to all leagues especially in rural areas to get affiliated.”
Nema acknowledged PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka and his board for instituting reforms and the league’s new governing structure.
“The new structure now decentralises everything down to the grassroots level, starting from local competition, up to provincial level, to the confederates and on to the national level,” he said.
Nema said the reform presented a good platform to cater for and develop talents throughout the country.
He said leagues that were interested to affiliate needed to meet PNGRFL requirements such as providing a draft budget, having executives and being able to adopt the new strategic plan and the constitution of PNGRFL.