Tsaka: We will follow NRL’s lead

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League says it is following the Australian NRL’s lead by establishing health and safety protocols for its programmes, including the Digicel Cup.
“We’ve been working with our partners in the sport and the national authorities to chart a way forward to implement revised programmes for rugby league after the Covid-19 pandemic and the state of emergency (SOE),” PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said in a statement yesterday.
“We met Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas, Covid-19 Media and Public Information Joint Agency Task Force team leader, on behalf of SOE Controller David Manning last week to present our revised plans for this year and the PNGRFL public health guidelines that provide the framework for PNGRFL’s ‘new normal’ for rugby league.
“The guidelines are known as the ‘Banis Protocols’.
“We are committed to ensuring that the health and safety of our players, staff and supporters are protected.”
He said the protocols mirrored those of the NRL which had been adapted and tailored to the PNG environment.
“We will be engaging with our key stakeholders on the protocols beginning next week,” Tsaka said.
“It is important that awareness is carried out and everyone involved in the game know what the processes are, the roles and responsibilities they all hold.”
He said the sport’s governing body was hopeful of kicking off competitions, including the Digicel Cup, in the “next few months”.
“These documents are an integral part of meeting this goal, in conjunction with the endorsement of the Office of the SOE Controller.”