What you need to know about the PNG NRL Comp

[mikail-eagle]

With regular season footy over for the next four months I thought I would follow what Sports Mad has done with the Russian Rugby League clubs and do the same for PNG.

But before I start with clubs I'll give some details about the PNG National Comp which these clubs play in..

Most of the information is from Wiki but I have made amendments where some information is incorrect.

Teams/club features/history to come on later


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea_National_Rugby_League

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRL) is a semi-professional rugby league competition held annually in Papua New Guinea. Formerly known as the SP Inter-City Cup or SP Cup(1990–2008) and later the Bemobile Cup (2009–2010) after changes in sponsorship. The current competition is sponsored by pacific telecommunications giant Digicel and is now known as the Digicel Cup.

Previous to 2005 the PNG NRL was called the SP Inter-City Cup. The national competition was known as the SP Cup, and has been held since 1990. No competition was held in 2004 due to financial problems and province violence in certain provinces. But the competition returned for 2005 season as the new-look PNGNRL. Much like the new PNGNRL format the old SP Inter-City Cup had teams competing in a format much like the Australian National Rugby League format, with the top 4 clubs at the end of the rounds entering play-offs, culminating in a Grand Final held in the capital city Port Moresby.
The 2005 season had 8 teams in total from all around Papua New Guinea. In 2006 one team got relugated (Monier Broncos) to make way for two new teams, Central Raiders and Pagini Warriors. The inaugural winner of the competition was the Agmark Gurias who beat the Brian Bell Bulldogs in Port Moresby. In the short history of the tournament the competition has shown high levels of rugby league play in Papua New Guinea.
In 2009 local mobile telecommunication Company, Bemobile, took over from SP Brewery as the competitions major sponsor. Currently 9 teams compete in the competition.[1]
On February 9, 2011, telecommucations company Digicel who has took over the industry in PNG since its operation started in 2007, announced that it will be sponsoring PNG's premier sporting event for the next five years.


Teams in 2012

Team Stadium City/Area
Rabaul 'Agmark' Gurias Kalabond Field, Kokopo, East New Britain Province
Mendi Muruks Lae League Oval Mendi, Southern Highlands Province
Toyota Enga Mioks Johnson SikiOval Wabag, Enga Province
Mt. Hagen Eagles Hagen Show Grd Mt Hagen, Westn Highlands Province
Goroka Lahanis National Sports Inst. Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province
Port Moresby Vipers Lloyd Robson Oval Port Moresby
Simbu Warriors Dickson Oval, Kundiawa, Simbu Province
Gulf Isapea Lloyd Robson Oval Port Moresby
Lae Tigers Lae League Oval Lae, Morobe Province

Former Clubs
Simbu Angrass exited in 1999
Monier Broncos exited in 2005
Simbu Angrass exited in 2005
Brian Bell Bulldogs exited in 2007
Masta Mak Rangers exited in 2011
Hela Wigmen exited in 2012

History of Premiers

Year Premiers Runners Up Score Attendance
1990 Port Moresby Vipers Mt Hagen Eagles 22-14 9,230
1991 Port Moresby Vipers Mt Hagen Eagles 18-16 8,900
1992 Port Moresby Vipers Mt Hagen Eagles 36-0 12,112
1993 Goroka Lahanis Port Moresby Vipers 22-10 8,291
1994 Port Moresby Vipers Goroka Lahanis 36-30 8,011
1995 Lae Bombers Mendi Muruks 28-18 10,232
1996 Mendi Muruks Kundiawa Warriors 11-10 12,312
1997 Mt Hagen Eagles Lae Bombers 19-16 10,271
1998 Mt Hagen Eagles Mendi Muruks 14-6 9,278
1999 Goroka Lahanis Rabaul Gurias 18-16 10,812
2000 Enga Mioks Rabaul Gurias 36-20 14,123
2001 Rabaul Gurias Goroka Lahanis 18-2 10,912
2002 Lae Bombers Rabaul Gurias 14-12 12,321
2003 Rabaul Gurias Lae Bombers 17-16 12,381
2004*
2005 Rabaul Gurias Port Moresby Bulldogs 23-14 10,249
2006 Mendi Muruks Goroka Lahanis 19-14 12,021
2007 Mendi Muruks Rabaul Gurias 42-6 11,000+
2008 Mendi Muruks Mt Hagen Eagles 14-4 12,000+
2009 Rabaul Gurias Enga Mioks 24-14 15,000+
2010 Goroka Lahanis Mendi Muruks 21-10 20,000+
2011 Goroka Lahanis Rabaul Gurias 20-10 20,000+
2012 Rabaul Gurias Mendi Muruks 14-10 20,000+

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features.

1. Port Moresby Vipers

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 4-1990, 1991, 1992, 1994.

Originally, like all the other clubs taking part in the PNG NRL Competition, the Port Moresby Vipers was owned by the local Rugby League Association which governed Rugby League in the Province, which in this case is the Port Moresby Rugby League Association.

The team was originally just a representative side that the Association sent out to the various PNGRFL tournaments most likely the Southern Zone trails etc.. And the players were selected from the local teams that competed in the Port Moresby Rugby Association. Teams like Kone Tigers, Magani, DCA, Wests, Air Nuigini, Paga Panthers & Hanuabada Hawks etc supplied the players.

From 1986 to 1989 the team also competed in the Panasonic Cup in Australia but it wasn't until the SP Intercity Cup competition kicked of in 1990 that the Port Moresby Vipers were really born. They dominated the competiton back than and won 3 Premierships in row between 1990 and 1992 which was only broken by the goroka Lahanis in 1993. During this period they took part in the world sevens in 1992 and 1993.

In 1996 and 1997 during the Super League war they did not take part in the PNG SP Cup because the Port Moresby Rugby League Association was suspended by the Super League aligned PNGRFL for staying loyal to the ARL. But they managed to compete in the QLD in those 2 years.

They were readmitted into the competition in 1998 after the Super League war was over.

Fast forward to 2012: They are currently owned as a Franchise by the CPL Group of Companies. The teams players are still sourced mostly from the local Port Moresby Competition.

Players who played big rolls in their early success include the late Akuila Emil, Tuksu Karu, Elias Paiyo, Arnold Krewanty, Micheal Marum etc.. Marcus Bai made his debut for the Vipers in 1994 and played 3 seasons with the club before joining Hull in 1997.

They provided 2 players to last months PNG Prime Ministers XIII team in right centre Richard Kambo & half back Isreal Eliab.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features.

2. Goroka Lahanis

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 4 - 1993, 1999,2010,2011

The Goroka Lahanis were originally owned by the Eastern Highlands Rugby League Associated an was the Rep team used in PNGRFL tournaments. Before 1990 they would have most likely represented their province in the annual Highlands Zone trails. In 1990 when the SP Intercity Cup was launched the Lahanis were officially formed. The players were selected from the Local Goroka Rugby League and the Gahuku Off Season Competitions. Teams from Goroka such as Goroka Norths, Royals etc supplied most the players for the Lahanis.

Their first Premiership came in 1993 when two young debutants in Fullback David Buko and a halfback called Stanley Gene led them to break the Port Moresby Vipers domination of the Competition. The following year in 1994 they tried hard to go back to back but were beaten at the death by a last minute try by another debutant for the Vipers that year in Marcus Bai.

Fast forward to 2012: The team is now owned as a Franchis by local business Group Bintagor. After winning back to back premierships in 2010 and 2011 they faded towards the end of season 2012 and were the first team to be eliminated in the finals series.

Former playing greats for the team include: Tuyo Evei, David Buko, Stanley Gene, Fatty Buka, Nigel Hukula, Agi Tete etc...

They provided 3 players to last months PNG Prime Ministers XIII team in Captain and Lock Glen Nami, Prop Forward Gonzella Urakesie and 2nd rower Wesley Mohokule.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Wouldn't it be great to see a Challenge Cup style comp made up of club sides from the Pacific region and the lower leagues in Australia (QCup, NSWRL, WARL etc). I think it generate some interest and give players in these Pacific nations a chance to show their talent to new audiences.

 

[Broncos thats my team]

and play the final on GF day.

 

[Sydney Knight]

Keep up the great work. It's good to read these PNG updates

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Feature

3. Mt Hagen Eagles

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 2 -1997, 1998
Zone: Highlands Zone
Home Ground: Kimininga Oval
Home Town: Mt Hagen
Home Province: Western Higlands Province

As was the case with most teams in PNG, the Eagles were the representative team from the local Western Highlands Rugby League Association. During the 80's the team would be comprised of selected players from the Western Highlands local League to take on the other Highlands League associations in the Highlands Zone championships/trails so that Zone selectors could pick a Highlands Zone squad. The team also produced PNG's first ever Rugby League export in Phlip Ralda who played 2 seasons in 1983 and 1984 with Bradford Bulls.

But it was officially launched in 1990 for the start of the new SP Intercity Cup. For the first 3 years of the competition the Eagles were always very competitive. However, they always ended up as the bridesmaids to the Port Moresby Vipers who beat them in 3 Grand Finals in a row in 1990, 1991 & 1992.

Those three losses in row seemed to kick the wind out of the Eagles and it wasn't until 1997 that they won their first title. It was also a coincidence that their nemesis in the Port Moresby Vipers were not in the Competition that year.

However, the Eagles proved that their win was not a fluke when they went back to back the following year in 1998. But it was also the last win for them as the Premierships have since dried up and the last time they made a Grand Final was in 2008 when they lost to Mendi Muruks.

For a Province that eats and sleeps rugby league and has lots of talents it amazing that they have only won 2 titles. The reason for this is that their best young talents have always been lured away to other provinces. Current and recent Kumuls players like Center Menzie "Juke Box" Yere, Prop Paul Pora, Five-Eight Dion Aiye, George Moni, Peter Dunn, John Waka, Stanley Sukot etc all got lured away from Mt Hagen by other teams.

Players who stood out for them over the years include the likes of David Gomia, James kops, Micheal Angra, Peter Dunn, Menzie Yere etc

Fast Forward to 2012: The Team is currently owned by Wantok Gaming Systems. They didn't make the finals in 2012 an had only one player selected for the PNG Prime Minister XIII team in left centre Jason Tali.

 

[mikail-eagle]

[PNG Club Feature

4. Mendi Muruks (Pronounced Moo rooks) is the Cassowary in PNG Pidgin

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 4 -1996, 2006, 2007, 2008
Zone: Highlands Zone
Home Ground: Tente Oval in Mendi /Currently playing out of Lae
Home Town: Mendi
Home Province: Southern Highlands Province


As I have mentioned with the other teams in PNG, the Muruks were the representative team from the local Southern Highlands Province. During the 80's the team would have been comprised of selected players from the Southern Highlands local League to take on the other Highlands League associations in the Highlands Zone championships/trails so that Zone selectors could pick a Highlands Zone squad.

However the team was only officially launched in 1990 for the start of the new SP Intercity Cup. For the first 5 years of the competition it look like they were only there to make up the numbers. They were never seen as a threat to the bigger teams like Port Moresby vipers, Mt Hagen Eagles or Goroka Lahanis. However in 1995 they shocked PNG League fans by coming from 5th place to make the Grand Final. They lost 28-18 to Lae Bombers in that Grand Final but the following yearin 1996 they returned with more confidence to win their first title in a nail bitter 11-10 against the Kundiyawa Warriors. However, they than went into long period of under performing. This dry spell lasted for 10 years and was finally broken in with a premiership in 2006. They now had very good players in key positions. Charlie Wabo at hooker, Stanley Hondina at five-eight, Kima Geno at halfback and Joseph Omae at lock led the charge. And they backed up their 2006 title by winning again in 2007 and also completing the treble in 2008. This was the first time for a team to again win 3 premierships in row since the Port Moresby Vipers from 1990-1992.

With tribal fights taking place in the home province and with other teams not wanting to travel there, The Muruks now play out of PNG's second largest City of Lae.

Players who have stood out for them of the years include, Joseph Omae, Cedrick Belo, Samuel Pinpin, Anton Mal, Stanley Hondina, Charlie Wabo

Fast forward to 2012: The Team is currently owned by Englishmen Thomas Higgins through his Company Structural Bridging Systems Limited.

They made also made the Grand Final in 2012 by knocking the reigning premiers the Goroka Lahanis in the fist Elimination Final and also by beating the Enga Mioks in the Grand Final Qualifier. However they lost to the Minor Premiers Rabaul Gurias in the big one.

They provided 2 players to last months PNG Prime Ministers XIII team in hooker Charlie Wabo and Winger Mathew Puke.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features

5. Lae Tigers (Formerly Lae Bombers)

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 2 -1995, 2002
Zone: Northern Zone
Home Ground: Lae Rugby League Grounds
Home City: Lae
Home Province: Morobe Province

Originally, like all the other clubs taking part in the PNG NRL Competition, the Lae Tigers or Bombers as they were originally called was owned by the local Lae Rugby League Association whom governed Rugby League in the Morobe Province.

The team representative side the Association and the province at the various PNGRFL tournaments. For them it was attending the annual Northern Zone Championships etc.. And the players were selected from the local Lae Competition. The Lae Rugby League clubs like Lae Spiders, Lae Brothers, Magani, Royals, Tigers, Bulldogs, Crucshers etc ...supplied this rep team with the players.

In 1990 this Team was also officially launched to Represent Lae City in the new SP Inter-City Cup. They were always a competitive side but it wasn't until 1995 that they won their first Premiership. Their other title was in 2002 when they beat Rabaul Gurias 14-12.

They also played in loosing Grand Finals in 1997 to Mt Hagen Eagles and in 2003 the Rabaul Gurias avenged their loss the previous year to beat them 17-16 in the Grand Final.

In 2010 their Sponsor and now Franchise owners the LBC Group of Companies decided to sell the team. They were bought buy the Lae Biscuit Group and had their name changed to tigers and also had their club colours changed. This did not go down to well with the clubs fans but the new management went ahead with the change.

They have always had a good representation in the Kumuls Teams and players who starred for them include; John Okul who was one of 2 PNG Players who signed with Hull KR after the 2005 world Cup. The other being Stanley Gene. Other players include David Guido, Mathew Elara, Korul Sinemau, Charlie Vee, Micheal Matmilo etc..

Since changing their name to Tigers they have not fared well at all missing the 3 finals series since.

They had one player in the 2012 PNG Prime Ministers XIII with interchange forward Mark Mexico.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features

6. Simbu Warriors (This year renamed to Lions)

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 0
Zone: Highlands Zone
Home Ground: Dickson Oval
Home Town: Kundiyawa
Home Province: Simbu Province


As I have mentioned with the other teams, the Warriors were the representative team for the Simbu Province. The team would have been comprised of selected players from the local Simbu Rugby League to take on the other Highlands League associations in the Highlands Zone championships.

Though they have always competed very strongly throughout their history, they have yet to win a premiership. The closest they came was in 1996 when they lost 11-10 to Mendi Muruks.

They are feared by the other teams for the physicality and uncompromising style of play. And most of the other teams would agree that playing them at home in Kundiyawa in front of their home supporters is the most intimidating.

In fact the team had previously been kicked out of the competition twice for crowd violence and unruly behavior from the crowd and also indiscipline from the players.

In 2012 the Franchise was bought of by French Businessmen Gerard Philips. Mr Philips was eager to create a new image for the club and promptly changed the team's name to Simbu Lions. He managed to convince alot of local players from the Province who had left and were playing for the other teams to return and play for the Lions. He also recruited his countryman Pierre Vandome to coach the side.

The team did make a lot of improvements in 2012 and they just missed out on the top 5 to make the Finals.

They had one player in the 2012 PNG Prime Ministers XIII with interchange forward Esau Suine Mexico.

 

[mattystans000]

These are great Mikail, don't ever get to see so much trustworthy information about PNGNRL as what you've given us here. Keep up the great work!

 

[mikail-eagle]

Thanks Matt, just trying to put the information out there of the PNG NRL Comp is run, where the players come from and ultimately how the Kumuls Team is selected.

Most of the Team information is based on my own recollections of watching the game, playing the game, reading about it in the local papers or watching on the Local TV Station EMTV etc...

Mind you I was only 15 in 1990 when the SP Intercity Cup first started so I've had to research some of the older stories. But I still remember clearly those early days when I'd go with friends from the streets and find a hole big enough to crawl into the grounds without be spotted by secuirity.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features

7. Enga Mioks

Entered Comp: 1998
Premierships: 0
Zone: Highlands Zone
Home Ground: Aipus Oval
Home Town: Wabag
Home Province: Enga Province


As I have mentioned with the other teams, the Mioks were the representative team for the Enga Province. The team would have been comprised of selected players from the local Enga Rugby League to take on the other Highlands League associations in the Highlands Zone championships.

However they only entered the SP Intercity Cup Competition in 1998.

In their maiden season they came a miserable second-last. The following season under new coaching staff and new sponsors Toyota they improved significantly coming fourth. In their third season with the smart recruiting of power-house international prop Raymond Karl the Mioks won their first minor premiership and SP Intercity Cup title.

But since then the team has had a wayward time with financial problems and provincial problems.

In 2005 they had a scrappy season finishing a lonely second last. In 2006, however they improved just missing out on the finals play off by points difference.

Fast Forward 2012: The team is now owned by the Enga Provincial Government, they are still sponsored by Toyota and had a good season finishing second during the regular season. However, they got nervous during the playoffs and were knocked out in the Grand Final qualifier by the Mendi Muruks.

They had one player in the 2012 PNG Prime Ministers XIII in 2nd rower David Loko

 

[mikail-eagle]

Just saw a typo from my post above...The Enga Mioks do have 1 Premiership from 2000 when they defeated the Rabaul Gurias 36-20 in the Grandfinal.

They also played another Grand Final in 2009 but lost it 24-14 coincidentally it was to the Rabaul Gurias.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Features

8. Gulf Isapea (Isapea is Crocodile in the Kerema Language of the Gulf Province)

Entered Comp: 2011
Premierships: 0
Zone: Southern Zone
Home Ground: Loyd Robson Oval
Home City: Kerema/Port Moresby
Home Province: Gulf Province / NCD


The Gulf Isapea are the newest team in the Competition. The Club was established in 2010 by the Gulf Provincial Government as a team which could represent the Gulf People in Rugby League and create a pathway for the many many talented Gulf Rugby players who couldn't make it into the other Highlands dominated teams.

However, they were only allowed to enter the competition in 2011.

Initially it was thought that the team and the players would be based in the Gulf Province itself and use the local players there. This did not eventuate as the team itself is now Port Moresby based and is using the many Gulf heritage players in Port Moresby.

In their first year they finished last with the wooden spoon. They improved a little bit and even though they were trashed 86-4 (Biggest margin ever in the Comp) by the Rabaul Gurias during the regular season they somehow managed avoid the wooden spoon.

They did not have any players in the PNG Prime Ministers XIII.

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG Club Feature

9. Rabaul Gurias (Gurias is Earth Quake in PNG Pidgin)

Formed: 1990
Premierships: 5 -2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012
Zone: Nuigini Islands Zone
Home Ground: Kalabond Oval
Home Town: Kokopo / Rabaul
Home Province: East New Britain Province

The last of the current existing teams is the Rabaul Gurias. Based on the Island of New Britain, this has been the most successful team in the history of the PNG National Competition.

And as was the case with most teams in PNG, the Gurias were the representative team for the East New Britain Rugby League Association. During the 80's the team would be comprised of selected players from the local Rabaul Rugby League to take on the other 3 Islands League associations in the Islands Zone championships.

Rabaul Rugby League clubs like Kokopo Muruks, Seagulls, Royals, Crusaiders, Vudal Cowboys etc provided the players for the team.

The Gurias however were officially launched in 1990 when the now PNG Comp was established. Success did not come early for them and they had to wait for 11 years before they won their first Premiership in 2001. After that the flood gates opened and they picked up titles in 2003, in 2005 , 2009 and again this year in 2012. Along the way they have also lost 5 Grand Finals in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2011. So you could say that they have always been consistently very good and always in the top 2 or 3.

Their success has been down to the very good junior programs in the Province and also being the only Island team in the National Competition they have had the luxury of luring and attracting players from the other 3 Island Provinces of West New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.

Their success however has never been really rewarded with a lot of Kumul places for the players. Over the years selectors have mostly always picked their forwards but somehow always shunned their talented but small, fast and nippy backline for the much bigger highlands players for internationals. However their continued success is now changing this trend.

Players who have contributed towards their success over the last decade include former Kumuls August Joseph, Lipring Palangat, James Dummy, Lucas Solbat, Normyle Eremas, James Kapia, Kuks Poto etc...

And in recent years the likes of Menzie Yere, Dion Aye, Rodney Pora, Albert Patak, George Moni, Stanley Sukot, Giamuki Tau, Oscar Tonga, Pidi Togap have graduated into Kumuls.

The franchise is currently owned by the Agmark group of companies. In 2012 they won their 5th title.

They had 4 players in the PNG prime Ministers XIII team in winger Albert Patak, five-eight Dion Aiye, prop Rodney Pora and hooker Wartovo Puara.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Great info.

What crowd sizes do these teams get during the regular season?

And lol at the Simbu Warriors, this club has a lot in common with the Canterbury Bulldogs especially and Manly by the sounds of it.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Crowd sizes vary from Province to Province and sometimes also depends on which opposition the home side is playing.

Most of the Provincial grounds are not that big and may take in 6000 -7000 but on game days it always looks like much much more than that. Port Moresby and Lae I think get up to 8, 000 for the regular season and than the numbers increase over night for the finals.

 

[mikail-eagle]

However, one thing you need to know is that away team fans never travel from their home Provinces unless if it is to either Port Moresby or Lae. This is the case even for the 5 Highlands based teams in Goroka Lahanis, Enga Mioks, Mt Hagen Eagles, Mendi Muruks and Simbu Warriors who's home Provinces and Towns are all linked by road.

All the above 5 teams are also linked to Lae by road so if they are playing against the Lae Tigers than they travel down to Lae on the coast by Bus.

But when they have to travel to Port Moresby or Rabaul than the only means of travel is by plane. This is the same for the Port Moresby Vipers and the Gulf Isapeas as they have to travel by air every second week that is unless if they are playing each other in Port Moresby.

The Rabaul Gurias being an Island team are also faced with the same burden of having to fly every second week.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Thanks again for all the info mikail, it is the kind of stuff most in this part of the forum have always wanted to know about regarding the week to week game of RL in PNG.

Thank you.