TVWAN to broadcast NFS double-header on Feb 24

By MELTON PAIS
The Partnership between the Papua New Guinea rugby football league and Digicel TVWAN to broadcast the international double header on February 24 was announced yesterday at Gateway Hotel.
PNGRFL chief executive officer Reatau Rau who spoke behalf of the SP Hunters and Digicel Cup challenge during the broadcast announcement said PNGRFL was grateful because these two games the Melanesian Cup and the Hunters trial match would mark the start to the PNG rugby league season.
Rau said Digicel Cup premiers Lae Snax Tigers would take on the Nadi Aviators from Fiji as the first game of the double-header and Queensland Intrust Super Cup premiers SP PNG Hunters would face NRL club the Brisbane Broncos on Saturday (Feb 24) at the National Football Stadium.
“Please note that both games are equal in status. The first game between the Tigers and Nadi Aviators is not dubbed a curtain raiser. It is the first of the international double-header for the day,” Rau said.
“Lae Snax Tigers will be looking to retain the Melanesian Club Championship Cup.
“This is a RLIF-sanctioned game and national anthems of PNG and Fiji will be sung before kick-off at 12:45pm.
“The pre-season trial between the Hunters and Broncos is the second game of the double-header,” he added.
“This will be the last trial fixture before the season proper for the Broncos starts 12 days later against St George Dragons while our SP Hunters’ start their Q-Cup defence against the Ipswich Jets at the NFS on March 11.”
Rau said tickets for the international double header go on sale at 9am on Saturday at the Ticketmaster outlets in Port Moresby.
“We thank TV WAN for taking these two international games to every Papua New Guinean who will not be able to attend,” he said.
“The game will be shared with the other networks for news purposes only.”
TVWAN assistance production manager John Faunt said Digicel was delighted to be collaborating with PNGRFL in broadcasting the double header.
“We have a great relationship with PNGRFL starting back 2014 and the partnership is still strong up to this moment,” Faunt said.
“We are the first HD TV network in PNG to broadcast Digicel Cup and Hunters games to our subscribers throughout the country.
“We will continue to do our best to make sure that the number one sport is watched by as many Papua New Guineans.
“As the leading entertainment and sports network in PNG, we are proud to broadcast this historic match,” Faunt added.