Young stars to gain from joint league concept

THE PNG NRL Bid and the PNG Rugby Football League have announced a joint partnership programme to deliver a Tops Camp next month.
The Tops Camp is basically bringing together young talents from the four zones of the Highlands, Northern, Islands and Southern regions for camps.
The joint initiative will also include the PNG NRL Bid sponsors and stakeholders.
PNG NRL Bid chief executive officer Brad Tassell said the concept would go a long way in strengthening the game at the junior level.
“This is the first step towards delivering a structured National Rugby League Junior Development programme for the youth of PNG.
“Under interim chairman John Numapo and the interim PNGRFL board we are very excited about working closely with the PNGRFL to deliver a true pathway for the talented youth in PNG, Tassel said.
“I would like to personally thank our sponsors – Coca-Cola Amatil, Ela Motors, Inspac, The Holiday Inn, Post-Courier and Airlines PNG for assisting us to make this happen. I would also like to pay special thanks to the University of PNG for allowing us to use their facilities and we look forward to our long association with them in the future.”
The tops camp will be held at the University of PNG (Waigani Campus)  from July 11-14.
Thirty-eight players have been selected from the four zones for the camp. They are;
Michael Ray Andowi, Heagi Ikosi, Williame Matinitini, Ishmael Indipin, Charlton Berapu, Kapo Taylor, Emmanuel Tamanabae, Dale Matapere, Joel Billy, Christopher Simon, Bob Gore, Freeman Gabriel, Samson Patrick, T.K. Waren, Fittler Gabriel, Ronny John, Max Eyork (Southern Zone).
Those representing the Northern Zone include Daniel R Aiele, Nixon Borana, Steven Yaks, Alsana Kaulo, Albert Luveni, Kingston Lucas Taragau, Tony Kawage, Bill Paul, Josiah Jimmy and Toari Kenake.
Ten players comprising Jamison John, Kepas Pital, Louis Komet, Steven Fabian, Gerard Tivelit,  Walter Bebai, Eliakim Lukara, Nelson Gideon, Konie Bernard, Chris Piner will be coming from the New Guinea Islands region. (Islands Zone) while Richard Mapi is the only one from the Highlands Zone.
Numapo said: “We are pleased to be working with the PNG NRL Bid to support the first tops camps for talented junior rugby league players in PNG. It is a small step leading to a bigger development programme which will be announced in the near future.
“We are in the process of reviewing the entire structure of the PNGRFL as per the court orders and this will take time as it has to be done correctly.
“Tassell and development manager Shane Morris have been instrumental in assisting us with this review process and we are fully supportive of the tops camp and future development programmes.”
One of the main criteria of this joint initiative is to instill in the schools programme that students must make every effort to be present at school, achieve good academic performances, respect others and be role models in the community.