Tropical 9s attracts 40, K175,000 prize pool

 THE inaugural Fairfax Tropical League Nines tournament has attracted three teams from outside Port Moresby for the October 12-16 challenge at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

The Oro Butterflies, Madang Duban Fox and Alotau Amazon Bay Hawks have signed up to have a crack at the prize money on offer.

The Duban Fox are the Northern region champions and are keen to take on the Southern sides. 

The Oro Butterflies are a combination of Port Moresby Butterflies and Popondetta Bulldogs while Amazon Bay Hawks are a village side from Alotau, Milne Bay.

An eight-team women’s teams division is yet to be finalised by nines founder and president Andrew Oli. The prize pool is K175,670.

The men’s champion gets K40,000 and runners-up K25,000. 

A tournament team will be picked for the Cabramatta 9s next year.

Teams: Pool A – Aranaimo Brothers, POM Royals, Moresby South East, Erima Wanderers; Pool B – Bang 36, Henao Hurricanes, Moresby South West, Urban Youth Pride; Pool C – Hohola Freeway Bumpers, Duban Fox, UPNG Pythons, Marane Kay Juniors; Pool D – Kone Storm, Irupara GK Marlins, UPNG Blacks, West Papua Warriors; Pool E – City Redbacks, BCMS PNG, Boera Sailors, POM Suburban; Pool F – PAU Lagoon Pirates, Ekessa Tyres, Fireballs, Oro Settlers; Pool G – Rovanama, Amazon Bay Hawks, Koiari Nagavas, Gaiva Kala Sea Eagles; Pool H – Keakalo Malagana, Poreporena Marlins, Papa RIL Roadsiders, Pom Diwai; Pool I – Mogeana Blues, FH Laumas, Waidex Koki Eels, Bomai Yal; Pool J – SSG Roosters, Bese Bulldogs, Upulima Highway Brothers, Viriolo Sharks.