Lihir league to kick off with Newcrest Nimamar Nines

THE Lihir Rugby Football League (LRFL) will kick off its 2018 season with the Newcrest Nimamar Nines from May 12-13.
LRFL has good corporate backing with Newcrest Mining Limited as the major sponsor, Nimamar local level government, Anitua Group, Nu Londo, Natmani, Caldera, Balasie, Lihir Electrical, Ailai and ISOS Medical Services.
The Nimamar 9s challenge will see clubs from Lihir, New Ireland, and also from other parts of the New Guinea Islands vie for the cup and K10,000 in prize money.
The runners-up will receive K6000 and the third-place getters get K4000 while the fourth-placed team gets K2000.
The Nimamar LLG will support the event with a sponsorship of K40,000.
LRFL patron Baul Totsik said the sponsorship committed to the tournament made it possible to run the games. He said the tournament would be used to promote Newcrest Mining Limited’s social campaign theme: “Trupla Man, Trupla Meri”.
The theme was about saying no to violence and substance abuse.
“There has been a steady rise in social problems in our communities and we hope to send the message out there that these behaviour is not acceptable and we as the local league in partnership with our sponsors want to raise awareness on these issues and show that sport is a great activity to be involved in,” Totsik said.
“Winning prizes and being selected in representative teams is secondary, and a bonus which comes with discipline, dedication and commitments.”
Totsik challenged last year’s champions to maintain their standard and defend their title.
The defending champions are — Putput Crushers (men’s senior), Royals (women), Zuen (Under-20 men).
Totsik recalled the historic tour of the Rugby League World Cup trophy last year as an inspiration to fortify the interest of the code on the island and in the province.
He acknowledged Newcrest Mining Limited and Oil Search for providing that opportunity which was becoming a drive force for the Lihir league.