Venue off-limits to city league competition

 NO regular rugby league competitions will be played at the main National Football Stadium (formerly PRL, Lloyd Robson Oval).

This was revealed by NFS trustee board member Leon Buskens in an interview with The National. 

Busken said this was to preserve the surface, especially the grass.

The trustee board includes Buskens, Gerea Aopi and Michael Uari from Oil Search Ltd, Port Moresby Rugby League’s Dr James Naipao, Wari Varage and Jack Kedea. 

Busken said that PRL was allocated oval 2 at NFS and Murray Barracks Oval for its regular competitions. He said PRL were partners to OSL and would benefit from the facilities and play some matches as curtain-raisers to the PNG SP Hunters games at the main stadium.

The Hunters will play only 11 games at the NFS; this is when PRL would be given the chance to stage curtain-raiser games.

“PRL will be given the opportunity to play some games there but not for their regular competition.”

PNGNRL has yet to negotiate with the NFS trustees to use the facilities for their competition. PRL executives are in talks with OSL to allocate an office space for the league’s administration.