Opi takes action against CS assailants

PORT Moresby rugby League referee Guma Opi will press charges against two identified Tarangau officials who had assaulted him following a disruption to the season ending grand-final at the Lloyd Robson Oval on Sunday. 

The incident stemmed from a Tarangau try that Opi had disallowed at the 77th minute. This sparked off a chain of events that eventually led to the ugly scene in front of a capacity main grand-stand where two Tarangau officials sprinted from the bench to attack Opi. 

Opi was knocked to the ground and kicked several times by the duo who wore Correctional Service (CS) trousers before bystanders stepped in to diffuse the attack.

This is the second assault by Tarangau officials on POMRFL referee’s within three weeks. The earlier one was from the women’s semi-final where referee Morgan Buka was attacked by the Tarangau coach (named) and a female CS officer (named) in a similar manner.

The POMRFL judiciary committee slapped a total of 30 years ban on the duo. 

Opi, 57, a Level II Australian and Papua New Guinean ticketed referee from Keapara in the Central Province will take the issue further as a civil case and has spoken with NCD Metropolitan Commander Andy Bawa to get further advice on what steps to take regarding the incident.