Simbu’s Brawa misses out on French league final

 PORT Moresby Rugby League’s interim board headed by Dr James Naipao has appealed to its 16 affiliates to attend a special delegates meeting at the Shady Rest today at 6pm.

The PNG Rugby Football League board has given the PRL a two-week grace period to sort out their 2013 reports, after a successful Super Nines competition, which ended at Hohola, Ipi Park on Sunday.

Dr Naipao said he wanted clubs to meet the PNGRFL requirements of player’s registrations (senior, women and junior).

He said the PNGRFL’s deadline was June 30 and asked clubs to register early to avoid inconvenience.

Naipao said it was important that clubs followed these requirements as it would ensure their players were considered for selection in representative teams.

Naipao will table the Super Nines report, confirmation of their new home ground at the meeting.

RAHDLY Brawa’s club Realmont went down 20-14 to RC Bah in the French second division rugby league semi-final last Sunday week.

The TNA Lions product from Chimbu said it was a tough game and the described the latter as being stronger in the second half.

Communicating via email, Brawa said it was 6-8 at half-time and actually started the second strongly to score first, but gave away a lot of penalties in high tackles and knock-on’s to allow RC Bah to take advantage to get back in the game.

“I managed three line breaks with one which I off-loaded for our centre to score one of our tries,” Brawa said.

“I did not score at the semi final but for the season I managed six tries playing in the back-row.” Brawa confirmed that it was his first season with Realmont after being plucked from the Simbu Lions franchise from the Chimbu province that plays in the Digicel Cup competition.

“My cousin brother Kuni Minga is in his second season. At the moment Kuni is injured and not playing, but his club Toulouse Olympique are in the finals too,” he said.

Brawa said Minga who plays on the wing has scored 10 tries this season in the higher division one championship competition (Elite One).

He said since the season was now over he was looking forward to returning home since to seeing family and friends.

Brawa said Minga were keen to play Digicel Cup again and hoped the Lions would oblige them.

With the Lions struggling, the inclusion of the duo would be a boon for Lions boss Gerard Philip.

 Both men have performed exceptionally considering they play in a country that does not have English as its main language.

Philip, who is originally from France, was instrumental in helping Minga and Brawa sign up with the French clubs two years ago.