Marum condemns assault on POMRFL match officials

KUMULS coach Michael Marum has condemned last weekend’s assault in the Port Moresby Rugby Football League A-grade preliminary finals at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League national coaching director told The National yesterday that violence painted a bad picture for the sport in the country. “We call rugby league our national sport but it is sad to hear about brawls and assaults on match officials,” Marum said.
“Violence has no place in rugby league.
“If there’s a query against match officials or conflicts between players, there is always a sensible way to solve it.” The Kumuls legend said this sort of behaviour discouraged sponsors and followers.
“Let’s end rugby league violence in our country,” he said.
“I understand that the league has its own judiciary and I hope the perpetrators and clubs involved get punished accordingly.”
Referees Leonard Alphonse and Dickson Tasi were assaulted in their respective preliminary finals last Saturday and Sunday.
The first preliminary final was between Brothers and Hohola Flies on Saturday.
Flies were leading 18-14 with three minutes left when Alphonse was assaulted by Brothers players.
Alphonse escaped further harm when he fled to the dressing sheds.
In the other preliminary final between Souths and Tarangau on Sunday, Tasi was assaulted, along with touch judges James Kerry and George Kui.
League chairman Dr James Naipao has imposed severe penalties on the players involved, Souths president James Hol and both clubs.