Official calls for teams to field players from own province

AN official has called on the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competitions (PNGNRLC) to look into player-base records of franchises using players from Port Moresby.
Moresby South Rugby League chairman Brown Murema said it was unfair for provincial franchises to be using players from Port Moresby and questioned whether policies on local and imported players were enforced.
“Most players currently playing for provincial franchise teams are all Port Moresby-based players that are hired,” he said.
“People in respective provinces and districts and villages are eager to watch their very own local players represent them in their provincial franchises and not Port Moresby-based players only.
“Importantly they should be changes in venues in certain locations in the country, especially Port Moresby and Lae which is not good for rugby league followers and fans for respective provinces.”
Murema appealed to the competition manager to remember that rugby league was the national sport and people have invested a lot of time and resources in it so the administrators had to stand firm and uphold regulatory policies governing the semi-professional competition.
“The PNGNRLC must stand clear and not compromise themselves when screening teams and their player-base,” he said.
“It’s also compulsory for all interested teams to tick all the boxes before they can be considered for participation.
“Rugby league is a national sport and it’s bigger than any individual so it’s time we bring rugby league back to the people.”