Mairi to develop game

PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi is keen to develop the game at club level following his re-election for another three-year term.
He told The National that emphasis at club level was vital for players who wished to play in top-tier competitions and represent the country.
“We have to create a more conducive environment so that when rugby league is introduced at club and junior level,” Mairi, who heads the country’s biggest rugby league confederate, said. “This way, you know what you are doing and what you are working towards.
“If a player has an aspiration to make the Kumuls, you should understand that at junior level.
“PNGRFL has done tremendously well at the top level for the Digicel Cup, SP Hunters, Kumuls and the Orchids.
“I was part of the interim board seven years ago (2013) and during that time, we trialled many programmes.
“We had some success in our top-end programme with Digicel Cup side Central Dabaris.
“We’re now trying to focus on the lower-tier programmes.
“We’ve got some plans that we want to do at club level.
“Basically, we’re trying to get programmes at club level running properly so we can improve we improve the level of administration and then we can move up to association level and then to confederate.
“We intend to go right down to the club level so that teams can see and improve themselves so that there’s change at that level.”
Mairi retained the directorship on Saturday after overcoming Hubert Warupi nine votes to four with five league presidents absent, according to PNGRFL.