Small leagues should be PNGRFL affiliates, says Aki

SMALL leagues should be affiliated to the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) to give them a fair opportunity to expose raw talents from rural areas in the country.
The leagues would also be given the chance to see their players participate at the national sanctioned events – zone and provincial trials.
Port Moresby Suburban Sports Association chairman Billy Aki said these were among other issues affecting various leagues in PNG.
He said the association would also support the 19 Highlands leagues to ensure that PNGRFL follow the current constitution to preside over issues during its AGM in Lae on Saturday.
Aki was responding to an article in The National that the leagues were challenging the validity of the PNGRFL AGM.
The matter sought to nullify the requirements and notice of the AGM and its failure to comply with the PNGRFL constitution and the initial National court orders.
The legal proceedings arose after the interim board failed to respond to its petition about the new requirements introduced by the interim board which was unconstitutional.  
Aki also disagreed with the introduction of a second tier club system because it would only marginalised the rural leagues and miss out on various benefits.
“The second tier club system will never work. From experience it did not work between the Port Moresby rugby league and the suburban sports association.
“We will support the other leagues to ensure PNGRFL does away with the idea of a second tier club system rather become an affiliate of the PNGRFL,” Aki said.