No place for Lo

By MELTON PAIS
DIGICEL Cup competition manager Stanley Hondina says former Castleford Tigers winger Garry Lo will not be allowed to play for any club this season until he is cleared by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League.
Lo was released from a two-year deal with the UK Super League club last week with the Tigers management unwilling to release any details on what the 24-year-old may have done to force the club to cut ties with him.
Hondina said Lo, pictured, who was currently in Port Moresby, would need to be given the approval of the code’s main body before any franchise could acquire him.
The Western Highlander stood down days after making his Super League debut last month to help West Yorkshire Police with an investigation into a matter.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka is yet to make a formal statement on Lo, who represented PNG at the World Cup last year.
Meanwhile, Hondina said the Digicel Cup fifth round ended smoothly over the weekend without incident.
He thanked to the players, match referees, touch judges, the franchise officials and the supporters for a good round of matches.
He said the standard of play and support was improving and this was because everyone was doing their part.
“We had few incidents in the first three rounds that resulted in players and officials getting cited and got suspended,” Hondina said.
“Fewer incidents in round four but the match review committee couldn’t find fault in the players and team officials who were cited so it was regarded as light offences.
“Now, I am very pleased to announce that round five last week was a clean one across the board.
“We haven’t received any offence reports from the players and officials against our match referees and touch judges.
“I want all franchises to discipline their players and officials to maintain the behaviour throughout the season,” he added.
“Incident free games in round five. Players played clean. No offences reported and no match review means we are cleared and clean to head into round six this weekend.”
Hondina urged all the players to play hard but fair.
He said PNGNRLC would award points to player who demonstrated good sportsmanship on the field of play to be awarded the player of the year at the end of the competition.
“After the round five, Joe Joshua fullback of Lae Tigers is leading with nine points while Waghi Tumbe centre Joel Frank is running second on seven points.”
Tickets of the round 6 fixtures scheduled for Port Moresby will be sold at the three Brian Bell outlets – Gordon Home Centre, Boroko and Vision City and J-Mart in Erima at K10 for the outer stands and K20 for the grand stand.
Tickets will also be sold at the gate.
Round 6 Fixtures: Sun, May 13 – Chimbu Warriors v Waghi Tumbe, Lae Tigers v Mendi Muruks, Hela Wigmen v Enga Mioks, Gulf Isou v Port Moresby Vipers, Agmark Gurias v Goroka Lahanis.