Reform charts future

GREETINGS to our rugby league family and welcome to our 13th edition of the “Fulltime Reserve” column for this year, in our favourite rugby league newspaper, The National.
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) board and management were excited to be in Mt Hagen last week to successfully host the first consultative meeting for all rugby league administrators and stakeholders in the Highlands Confederation.
The huge turnout from all stakeholders from across the Highlands provided a tremendous opportunity for PNGRFL to engage with members and stakeholders on the implementation of the new governance and management reforms under the ‘New Ireland Model’.
The PNGRFL team was greatly encouraged by the positive feedback on the reforms received from all in attendance; and the successful outcome of the consultations has given the PNGRFL great motivation as we seek to roll out the reform initiative.
All stakeholders at the meeting acknowledged that whilst there has been much growth and progress in the management and performance of the sport at the national level, there is still a lot of work required to improve the management of the game at the confederate, provincial and member association level.
The disjoint in management alignment between the national level and the local level has meant that the positive results the sport has witnessed at the national and elite level has not filtered down to the confederate, provincial and local association level where much of the rugby league heartland is.
The issues and challenges affecting the performance of the sport at the local level include the lack of technical and management capacity, resources and infrastructure to support the tremendous work our self-less rugby league volunteers continue do.
The “New Ireland Model” seeks to address these issues by empowering, resourcing and improving the capacity of our local organisations and volunteers at the confederate, provincial and local levels to effectively manage and administer the game.
The stakeholders appreciated that the new model addresses this by providing a decentralised whole-of-game governance and management framework that promotes good governance and ensures the effective participation of all stakeholders of the game; such as provincial governments, key corporate and state agencies and development partners that are not able to participate under the current ad-hoc management system.
The commitment and united resolve from all stakeholders to embrace the reforms and implement the good governance guidelines with the establishment of the seven provincial boards and the confederate boards is positive indication that our rugby league administrators and stakeholders are serious about improving the management of the game across all levels.
The PNGRFL has now scheduled Fri, June 4, for the Southern Confederation consultation meeting to be held in Port Moresby for all our members and stakeholders of the game in the six provinces — Western, Gulf, Central, Milne Bay, Northern and the National Capital District.
Until next week, may the grace, love and care of our Good Lord be with you.

Cheers,
Sandis