Trial game a win for all

 THE PNG Hunters trial match against the Penrith Panthers on Saturday was a great way to start the 2016 rugby league season in the country.

The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side had the honour of opening the National Football Stadium and gave the fans, who flocked to the 15,000 venue, a decent enough spectacle going down 20-12 to an NRL outfit led by former New South Wales five-eighth Jamie Soward.

The fans, who paid between K50 and K25, to watch a spectacle live had Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in the presence of Oil Search chief executive officer Peter Botten give a pre-game speech before the national anthem was sung fittingly to open what will now be known as the rugby league in PNG.

Oil Search, as the major financiers of the stadium, worked in tandem with the state to provide a world class facility for the people to enjoy.

Panthers coach Steve Georgallis and Soward were full of praise for the venue describing it as one of the best – and that included the atmosphere from the fans.