Ipswich Jets form partnership with PNG Digicel Cup Team

[mikail-eagle]

http://www.looppng.com/sport/ipswich-place-trust-wigmen-55028

Ipswich place trust in Wigmen

The Ipswich Jets have placed trust with the Hela Wigmen to ensure players with the right discipline and standards join the Queensland Club.

This follows the announcement on Tuesday of a partnership between the Hela Wigmen Club and Ipswich Jets which will see four players from Hela, train and play with the Intrust Super Cup Club.

Ipswich Jets CEO, Jason Cubit, told Loop PNG that under the current arrangement, the Hela Wigmen management will identify and provide them with the right players.

Cubit also said they will provide them with other opportunities off the field.

“I’ve put trust in the Hela Wigmen management to make sure that they’re sending us the right people and the right players. Our motto at the club is the person is more important than the player and we want to make sure we’re looking after people off the field as much as we are on the field".

“When the boys come down and join our club, they’ll be part of that culture and we look after the boys down there make sure they’re working or studying, preparing for life outside of rugby league,” Cubit said.

The Ipswich Jets currently have PNG duo Richard and Sebastian Pandia as part of their squad and the four players to join them include former PNG Hunters players in the like of Brandy Peter and Warren Glare.

Cubit said the players would be welcomed as the club had a good cultural mix of players.

 

[ALX25]

Smart move from the Jets.

 

[mikail-eagle]

The Hela Wigmen have a new sponsor who has very deep pockets. I think you'll find that these Sponsors are meeting all the costs of these players playing for the Jets.
And I think this is something other PNG Digicel Cup Clubs who have the money could try doing whilst forming a partnership with an Intrust Super Club side.

http://kumulpetroleum.com/press-rel...-hela-wigmen-digicel-cup-franchise-team-2017/

Kroton Limited – Proud Naming Rights Sponsors of Hela Wigmen Digicel Cup Franchise Team 2017

Hela Wigmen Rugby Franchise Team was the lucky recipient of a K1.2 million Naming Rights Sponsorship package from Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) subsidiary Kroton Limited today.

The Hela based Semi-professional team participating in the Digicel Cup Competition in 2017 will be called Kroton Limited Hela Wigman Rugby League Team.

The one-year sponsorship will enable the Kroton Hela Wigman Rugby to participate in this season’s (2017) Digicel Cup through payment of affiliation fees and administration costs of the club.

Representing Kroton Limited, KPHL Managing Director Wapu Sonk and Hela Wigman Franchise Chairman Andy Hetra signed the Sponsorship agreement in Port Moresby witnessed by Hela Governor Francis Potape and Tari-Pori MP, Minister for Finance, James Marape and Ipswich Jets CEO, Jason Cubit.

During the signing ceremony, a jubilant Hetra said it is a great pleasure having Kroton on board as a Naming Rights Sponsor of Hela Wigaman. “my board and management of Hela Wigaman Franchise are delighted to have Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Kroton on-board with Hela Wigaman. Kroton is synonym with Hela in as far as PNG LNG Project benefits are concerned. Coming on board to Sponsor Hela’s elite rugby team is truly appreciated,” the Chairman stated.

Mr Hetra added that some of the sponsorship funding will go towards the development of rugby league infrastructure in Hela Province as well as an Ambassadorial Program and development of players.

“The Ambassadorial Program will include attachment of four (4) Hela Wigmen players with Intrust Super Cup team and Brisbane Broncos feeder team, Ipswich Jets, in Queensland.

‘Ipswich Jets had offered a unique opportunity for the players from Hela Wigmen to join their club for the 2017/2018 season under their program called “Project Marcus Bai.”

“Through this project, players will gain valuable knowledge and experience of the competitions played in Queensland as well as transition them into top league players.” Mr Hetra said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sonk said the Sponsorship gesture to Hela Wigman is one part of KPHL’s platform to create opportunities for Papua New Guineans to excel in any aspects of development. “And supporting Hela Wigman in rugby fits into one of KPHL visions to create opportunity for Hela youths to excel in sports.

“Most importantly, KPHL as a National Oil and Gas Company feels very much obligated to return something back to the People of Hela for collective benefits, hence agreed to Sponsor Hela’s elite rugby team.”

While commenting on the development programme Mr Sonk added; a” development program for players such as this makes the partnership between KPHL and Hela Wigmen all the more attractive and hopefully this is a start of making our Digicel Cup more professional.”

 

[ALX25]

Clubs like the Northern Pride, Mackay Cutters and CQ Capras could also do something like this.