Neap heads NRL PNG

FORMER PNG Orchids captain Cathy Neap will head the NRL PNG.
The 29-year-old will oversee the Australian Aid-partnered sport for development programme taking over from Mark Mom.
Neap, who first joined NRLPNG in 2014 said she was excited about the announcement and was looking forward to challenge.
“I am humbled by the opportunity given to me by NRL,” Neap said.
“I will do my best in my new capacity to inspire more young people, particularly girls to live a positive and healthy life, and use it as a platform to promote awareness on gender-based violence in our communities.”
NRL PNG has a total of 16 permanent and eight casual staff, eleven of whom are female, and conducts rugby league themed programmes in the country.
The programme utilisies the popular following of rugby league to promote positive behavioural change with a focus on primary school-aged children through its flagship League Bilong Laif (LBL) programme.
Neap, who captained PNG at last year’s World Cup, acknowledged the contribution of out-going general manager Mom.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Mark for his outstanding work in bringing the organisation this far and I congratulate him on his appointment as Pacific programme coordinator as well.
“This programme started from humble beginnings in 2013 and has grown from strength to strength under his leadership,” she said.
“We have a great team in NCD, East New Britain, Eastern Highlands and Bougainville who work hard to deliver sessions each term in often trying conditions.
“I will do my best to maintain the standard and will work with my team to continue rolling out the programmes,” she added.
Mom said Neap was the obvious choice to lead the NRL PNG team.
“We’re extremely proud of Cathy and what she has brought to the NRL,” Mom said.
“She possess all the attributes of a leader and the humility to work hard, always setting the example.”
“Women in sport are starting to push to the top of their respective organisations due to their impressive skill sets, the creativity they bring to the table and their willingness to work hard on improving themselves.
“It’s a great step for the sport of rugby league, and another step forward for gender equality in our country,” the mother of one said. Neap has also represented the country in rugby union having played for the PNG Palais at the Shanghai sevens before committing to rugby league and being employed as a development officer after graduating with an accounting degree.
“I started off as a development officer from 2014- 2015 and in 2016 was promoted to lead development officer and then elevated to to monitoring and evaluation officer and to team leader this year,” Neap, who is of mixed Enga and Gulf parentage, said.
“I’m happy (promotion to NRLPNG manager) but I feel that there is going to be a lot of work to do to ensure that the programmes are conducted in all regions.”
NRLPNG also runs Wellbeing, Voice Against Violence and Life, Literacy and League programmes concurrently with LBL, in collaboration with key partners such as the US Embassy, Family Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC), Westpac Foundation and Save the Children.
The programme utilises rugby league as a tool for positive social change in communities.