Wigmen are out

By KEVIN TEME
THE Hela Wigmen are out of the Digicel Cup this year after failing to meet the registration deadline set by the PNGNRL board.
For former champions Structural Bridging System Mendi Muruks, franchise owner Thomas Higgins secured his franchise at the 11th hour despite pledges made by Governor Anderson Agiru and his SHP provincial government for both Wigmen and Muruks.
“Tom Higgins has confirmed with the PNGNRL that SBSL Mendi Muruks is a certainty for the Digicel Cup premiership in 2012 while the Wigmen have failed to respond to the Feb 3 deadline and, as such, the PNGNRL board has resolved to have the Hela Wigmen removed from the Digicel Cup,” PNGNRL general manager Hubert Warupi said.
Wigmen, a team from the resource rich Hela region debuted last season but have failed to pay their 2012 fees even though Agiru pledged K300,000 to their cause recently.
“We have deadlines. It’s simple as that, no pay, no game and we cannot tolerate that anymore,” Warupi said this in his earlier interview with this paper regarding Wigmen’s fate.
Only nine teams are confirmed for this year’s competition which kicks off on the April 15.
The teams are Rabaul Gurias, Goroka Lahanis, Mt Hagen Eagles, Enga Mioks, Simbu Lions, Lae Tigers, Gulf Isapea, Port Moresby Vipers and Mendi Muruks.
Meanwhile, the only team that had paid in their K120,000 registration fees for 2012 is Gulf Isapea.
The Gulf provincial government gave K180,000 to offset their K60,000 outstanding bill from last year.