Sia puts up prize

By ZACHERY PER
TEN off-season rugby league teams in Eastern Highlands will play for K10,000 in prize money put up by Digicel Cup premiers Bintangor Goroka Lahanis franchise owner Simon Sia later this month.
The competition will be called the Simon Sia Off-season Rugby League competition and will be played over a two-week period in a round-robin format.
Sia said the teams would be organised into two pools (A and B) in the two-week long competition where the winner would claim the Simon Sia off-season title and a cash prize.
He said all teams would receive K1,000 for participating while the fourth place-getters would get K1,500, third place K2,000 and the runners-up would recieve K2,500 and the winners get K3,000.
Sia and deputy board chairman of Bintangor Lahanis board Himmony Lapiso sent invitations to Lufa and Okapa districts to field teams.
They said other teams already in preparation were Ungai-Bena, Kainantu, Henganofi, Daulo, Gahuku and three teams from Goroka.
Lapiso said selectors would be identifying raw talents during the challenge to pick a possible Goroka Red and Goroka White sides to play the Lahanis.
“A final Lahanis squad will be announced at the end of the challenge, which will include a talent squad from the Eastern Highlands schoolboys,” he said.
Lapiso invited interested teams to see president of Goroka Rugby League Pat Siwi for further information on the competition.
Lapiso said a schoolboys team would be selected to be with the Lahanis at trainings and possibly to understudy the seniors and give them some games as part of preparing them to be future Lahanis.
After an evaluation of each individual player’s performancein 2011, explosive centre Chris Hogi, who has represented PNG in league and union, was given the 2012 season off on medical grounds to recover from injuries sustained in the Digicel Cup.
Players who have retired are Tony Dai, Limu Willie, Minaho Goso and George Abba.
Players released from the Lahanis are John Arme Gand, Dickson Pitu, John Milba, Ismael Avute, Willy John and Maya Siove.
Coach Peter Danga said players released could be recalled depending on their performances at club level.
Players the Lahanis management retained for the new season are Adex Wera, Spiro Mikaive, Thompson Teteh, Kinsley Jaggie, Casey Frank, Walter Hasu, Gonzella Urakusie, Yappa Kapu, Wesley Mohokule, Joseph Peter, Micah Soboni, Glen Nami, Elvis Dick and Nicko Slain Hubile.