POMRFL prepared: Maino

THE Port Moresby Rugby Football League (POMRFL) is prepared for a shortened season due to the Covid-19 state of emergency, according to football operations manager and administrator Meke Maino.
He told The National last week that POMRFL was faced with similar instances in 2014 and 2017 when the season was either forced to start late or finish early.
“We’ve done it before,” Maino said.
“In 2014, when the then POMRFL chairman was suspended, we were under pressure to suspend the competition and we did not start until late June.
“So we already have experience in how implement a revised draw and a shortened season.
“We were still able to meet the deadline before the end of the year.
“We went through it again in 2017, when PNG co-hosted the Rugby League World Cup.
“It forced us to cut our season short so that the venue could be upgraded.” Maino said it was important for the league to incorporate the protocols set by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League and the Government.
“We are also pleased with the fact that our chairman, Dr James Naipao, has also drafted guidelines for us and other leagues to follow when we kick off our season,” he said. “So we are looking forward to seeing how this season will go.”
Maino said the guidelines on the standard operating procedures were crucial to their preparations.
He said unlike the past, the return of sports after the Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented.