Seven players from banned POMRFL clubs cleared

By ROBINSON LEKA
UP to 75 per cent of players from Souths and Brothers were cited for violence and assault against match officials in the Port Moresby Rugby Football League while only seven players from the two banned clubs were exempted.
The league’s judiciary exempted five players from Souths and two from Brothers for their non-involvement during the assault of match officials on Saturday and Sunday.
The judiciary exempted Gawe Talu, Tom Bal Peter, Daniel Pai, Clyde Osie and Peter Wai from Souths with the rest of their teammates and officials given five-year bans from the competition.
Elliot Dege and Karl Gende were the only two players from Brothers to be exempted along with their coaches Steve Gunua, Peter Rhys and Wilfred Henry.
Judiciary head and Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Southern Confederation director Gwaibo Mairi said apart from the six players who were directly involved in the assault, the majority of players were also cited for unruly behaviour over the weekend.
“About 75 per cent of players are not to take part in any other competitions, play with another club for five years,” he said.
“PNGRFL will not tolerate violence.
“If you are here to abuse your affiliation to Port Moresby Rugby Football League then this is not the place for your club.
“Brothers and Souths can appeal the decision.
“But for the moment, we’ll await their return in 2027.”
Meanwhile, PNGRFL game development manager and panel member Toksy Nema said the bans were imposed to set an example to other clubs.
“PNGRFL as an organisation will never stand back and allow this to happen,” he said.
“There’s behavioural development in the game as well as skills development, so we don’t tolerate violence.”