Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup 2025

[mikail-eagle]

Starting a new thread for next years competition.
There is a good likelihood that the competition will expand again.

A second team from Lae is being pushed heavily and maybe a return of the Chimbu Warriors and the Sepik Pride.
Also wouldn't mind a third team from the Islands region. Maybe New Ireland or Bougainville.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Kandes to prioritise rural talent in Morobe: Tepend | The National

www.thenational.com.pg

 

[Foreign Legion]

We need it on Kayo

 

[mikail-eagle]

 

[mikail-eagle]

 

[Coastbloke]

We need it on Kayo

And the French comp..

 

[mikail-eagle]

No expansion again next year.
Same 12 teams to go around again.

PNG National Rugby League Competition | Port Moresby

PNG National Rugby League Competition, Port Moresby. 34,945 likes · 13,946 talking about this. Sports

www.facebook.com

Media Release: PNG NRLC Confirms Clubs for 2025 Season

The PNGNRLC has confirmed the 12 current teams will battle it out for supremacy in the 2025 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competition which will kick off in April next year.

Building on the success of 2024 and following a thorough review of the season, our clubs, and after a long-considered assessment to expand it was decided it will be a 12-team competition in 2025.

The Chairman of the PNGNRLC, Mr Adrian Chow explained:
‘It is always a challenging process when considering expansion. As a responsible board some decisions are not always popular, but we are entrusted to have the best interest in the game at this forefront of all our decision making. Many different factors going into arriving at this decision.

Our PNGRFL Pathways and Performance Department undertook a rigorous audit of the performance of the current clubs on and off the field, detailed analysis, and assessment of all clubs’ application to participate in the 2025 competition and beyond.
Building on the success of the 2024 season and our continuous drive to improve the standards of the competition and the sustainability of our clubs, we believe that now is not the right time to expand.

We thank the Morobe Kandes and Simbu Warriors for their strong submission and will continue to work closely to help t

 

[Matt_CBY]

I would love to learn more about the Digicel clubs.

 

[mikail-eagle]

I would love to learn more about the Digicel clubs.

What would you like to know ? I could probably answer a few questions about the comp and the Teams.

 

[Matt_CBY]

An introduction to each club would be great.

 

[mikail-eagle]

An introduction to each club would be great.

No worries. I'll try give a brief history on the 12 current clubs.

 

[mikail-eagle]

The currently there are 12 clubs in the competition.

1. Port Moresby Vipers (1990-present) (Colours: Gold, Back & Red)
Premiership wins : 5 Runners up: 2
Probably the most well known outside of PNG. Since they once competed in the QLD Cup. And also represented PNG in the 7s tournaments in the early 90s.
The team is based in the Capital Port Moresby. They are one of the original teams from when the competition kicked off in 1990. They won the first 3 premierships in a row from 1990 to 1992. They were runners up in 1993 but won it back in 1994. And after a 19 year drought they won their 5th Premiership in 2013. They are now on a 11 year drought.

Their most famous player would probably be Marcus Bai. He debuted for them as a 20 year old in 1994 before heading overseas after the 1995 world cups.
Other notable mentions for Elias Paiyo (was hooker for the Adelaide Rams), Tuksy Karu & the Late Aquila Emil.

2. Goroka Lahanis. (1990-present) (Colours: Red, White & Sky-blue)
Premiership wins : 5 Runners up: 5
The team is based Goroka which is the Capital of the Eastern Highlands Province. They are also one of the original teams from 1990. They were the first team to defeat the Port Moresby Vipers in 1993 and break their 3 year premiership winning streak.
They also had premiership wins in 1999, doubles in 2011 & 2011 and the last in 2018. They made the grand final again in 2023 but lost to the Enga Mioks.

Their most famous player would have to be Stanley Gene. He was the star of the 1993 premiership. And their 1994 runners up season. He also headed overseas after the 1995 world cup.
Other notable mentions to David Buko (played few games for West Magpies in 1999), Tuiyo Evei and Fatty Buka.

 

[mikail-eagle]

3. Rabaul Gurias (1990-present) (Colours: Myrtle Green, Red & White)
Premiership wins : 6 Runners up: 8

One of only 2 teams from the Islands region. The team is based Kokopo which is the Capital of the East New Britain Province. They are also one of the original teams from 1990.

In terms of premierships they are the most successful with 6 premierships and 8 runners up. Their first premiership was in 2001 but were quite consistent winners until their last premiership in 2015. They have since lost 3 grand finals in 2016 & 2017 and the last loss in 2022.

Their most famous player would probably Menzie Yere. He joined the Sheffield Eagles in England after the 2008 World Cup.
Notable mentions to the Boas Brothers Ase and Watson Boas plus Wartovo Puara Jnr and Israel Eliab who all become PNG Hunters players and were instrumental in the Hunters 2017 QLD Cup premiership. The Hunters inagural and also 2017 Premiership winning coach Micheal Marum was also a former Gurias captain and and was also the Guaris coach in their premiership win in 2012.

 

[mikail-eagle]

4. Mt Hagen Eagles (1990-present) (Colours: Light Blue, Yellow & White)
Premiership wins : 3 Runners up: 4

Based in Mt Hagen, which is the Capital of the Western Highlands Province. They are also one of the original teams from 1990. They were the unlucky team that lost the first 3 grand finals to the Port Moresby Vipers from 1990 to 1992. Their glory finally came when they won doubles in 1997 and 1998.
And after a 26 year drought they finally won again this year 2024.

Since the 1990's their best juniors always made a name for themselves with other teams so its hard to pin point and one famous player. Their former player Nixon Putt is probably the one more known outside of PNG.

Current Kumuls Elijah Rotinga, Robert Matias, Koso Bandi are also all from this Province but they all played for other Digicel Cup teams.

 

[mikail-eagle]

5. Mendi Muruks (Moorooks) (Pidgin word for Cassowary)
(1990-present) (Colours: Black & White)
Premiership wins : 4 Runners up: 4

Based in Mendi, which is the Capital of the Southern Highlands Province. They are also one of the original teams from 1990.
Their first premiership was in 1996 and then after a 10 wait they won 3 premierships in a row from 2006 to 2008. Since then they have lost 2 grand finals in 2010 and the last in 2012.

Charlie Wabo would probably be their most well known player. He spent a good number of years in England with Hunslet Hawks. Current PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina is also a former premiership winner with the Muruks Team in 2006 and 2007.

 

[mikail-eagle]

6. Hela Wigmen
(2009-present) (Colours: Blue, Yellow & Red)
Premiership wins : 3 Runners up: 1

The team represents the Hela Province up in the Highlands region of PNG. Due to tribal conflicts in their home province, the team have been playing their home games in Lae and Port Moresby.

They won their first premiership in 2014 and followed it up with two more in 2020 and 2022. They also lost a Grand Final in 2019 to the Lae Tigers.

Current Kumuls players Judah Rimbu and Valentine Richard played for the Wigmen before joining the Hunters.

 

[mikail-eagle]

7. Lae Tigers
(2011-present) (Colours: Orange, Black & White)
Premiership wins : 4 Runners up: 1

Based in the second city of Lae, the Tigers only joined the competition in 2011.
Previously from 1990 - 2010, the City of Lae had another Team called the Lae Bombers Team in the Competition. The bombers folded in 2010 and the Tigers entered the Competition.

Since entering the competition the Tigers have been quite successful. They won back to back premierships in 2016 and 2017 plus in 2019 and 2021 as well. In 2020 they lost to the Hela Wigmen.

Justin Olam played for the Tigers while attending University in Lae before joining the Hunters.
Current Kumuls Rodrick Tai (Warrington) and Robert Mathias all played for the Tigers before getting selected for the Hunters.

 

[mikail-eagle]

8. Enga Mioks
(1998-present) (Colours: Green, Yellow & White)
Premiership wins : 2 Runners up: 2

The team is based in Wabag the capital of the Enga Province in the Highlands of PNG.
They entered the competition in 1998 and won their first premiership in 2000 and the their second title last year in 2023. In between they lost in 2009 to the Rabaul Gurias and 2018 to the Goroka Lahanis.

 

[mikail-eagle]

9. Central Dabaris (Pidgin word for wallaby)
(2019 - Present) (Colours: Blue & Red )

Premierships: nil Runners up:nil

The team is based in Port Moresby but represents the Central Province of PNG. It is a new Team that only entered the Competition in 2019. So far they have not yet made the finals but they came close this year finishing just outside the top 6.

Their best player to date has been Morea Morea jnr, who is currently in Townsville doing a train and trail with the NQ Cowboys.

 

[mikail-eagle]

10. Kimbe Cutters.
(2019-present) (Colours: Green, Black & Blue )

Premierships: nil Runners up:nil

The team is based in Kimbe which is the capital of the West New Britain Province. This is the second team, apart from the Rabaul Gurias who represent the Islands region of PNG.

It is a new Team that only entered the Competition in 2019. So far they have not yet made the finals.
Current Hunters and Kumuls winger Elijah Rotinga would be their best player to date.