Three more for inter-city

THREE new franchises have shown interest to take part in PNG’s semi professional rugby league competition next year.
Despite major sponsor and bemobile PNG Ltd  withdrawing its sponsorship, PNGNRL chairman Don Fox is confident a new sponsor will come on board before the new season starts.
The three new teams  are Hela Huli Wigmen,  Gulf Isapeas and another  Port Moresby-based group has also shown interest but has not come up with a name yet.
Fox confirmed that the three teams would be invited in their next board meeting scheduled for early next month.
“I have spoken to the three sides and they are keen to field their teams next year which is good,” Fox said.
He said he would invite them to the board meeting and ask them to present their plans before a decision could be made on them.
For Hela Huli Wigmen, they have tried to field a team for the past two seasons and were unsuccessful.
In Isapeas’ case, even though they were late last year they could have been allowed but did not complete all registering requirements were presented well to the PNGNRL board at the time.The third team will be revealed at the board meeting at the  board meeting come December.
Speculation has the team from Central province (Rigo) but this is yet confirmed.
Meanwhile Fox said the current nine franchises including current champions Goroka Bintangor Lahanis, Structural Bridging System Mendi Muruks, Stop and Shop Port Moresby Vipers, Lae Bombers, Kongo Coffee Chimbu Warriors, Agmark Rabaul Gurias, Mount Hagen Wantok Gaming System Kuris, Toyota Enga Mioks and Masta Mak City Rangers will be maintained for next season depending on their franchise owners continued support.