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PNG National Youth Competition

mikail-eagle

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3,190
Another part of the PNG pathways programs will kick off this weekend when the PNG National Youth Competition kicks off.
The U19's competition will have 6 Teams under the following Digicel Exon Mobil Clubs.

1. Port Moresby Vipers (NCD)
2. Rabaul Gurias (East New Britain)
3. Lae Tigers (Morobe Province)
4. Goroka Lahanis (Eastern Highlands
5. Mt Hagen Eagles (Western Highlands)
6. Central Dabaris (Central Province)
 

mikail-eagle

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3,190

497653324_122101804652870868_8430346333699756730_n.jpg
 

mikail-eagle

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3,190
Port Moresby Vipers squad from their Facebook page.

Here is our inaugural under 19s National Youth Competition(NYC) 30 men squad for 2025 season.
The NYC competition starts this weekend that will see our under 19s boys travel to Kokopo tomorrow with our senior team for their match this Saturday!

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mikail-eagle

Bench
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3,190
Rabaul Gurias NYC squad.

Also, from their Facebook page.


498200908_1103263071827727_5504745579786699825_n.jpg
 

mikail-eagle

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Media Release: National Youth Competition Kicks Off

Port Moresby 15th May 2025: Following the success of last weekend PNG NRL Bid Championship finals, the National Youth Competition (NYC) will kick off this weekend as a curtain raiser to the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Round 6. The first match will be this Saturday in Rabaul, East New Britain Province, where the ENB Agmark Gurias will take on the Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Viper in the first match.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Performance and Pathway General Manager Tony Archer said that this will be a historic weekend for PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNG NRLC) as NYC will have three matches played not only in Rabaul but across the country at PNG Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Round 6 matches in Port Moresby and Goroka.
“The NRL Bid Championships allowed our year 7/8 and 9/10 and open females to showcase their rugby league talent and now the National Youth Competition will allow our male under 19 players to perform at the PNG NRLC standard. “
“The start of this competition this weekend is another important step forward in growing the game and our clubs. It is creating more opportunities for our young players to develop their skills and play in a national pathway competition. It will be exciting to see the new crop of player emerge from this seven-week competition”
The PNGNRLC NYC will allow clubs, the families and our rugby league fan to see the best young talent in the country. With the support of our broadcast partner Digicel PNG, all Port Moresby Games will be televised on TVWAN Sports 2 and Round 1 match will be televised live from the Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday at 12.15pm.
Mr Archer stated that the Importance of the competition is that we have six pathway clubs having a youth competition that draws the talent in a combination from NRL Bid Academy, and our local Affiliate leagues.
“Under the PNGRFL Community Rugby League Affiliate League, PNG NRL BID and now the NYC will Draw a direct catchment area for the Pathway clubs under PNG NRLC and onward to the SP PNG Hunters and the big dream of International Rugby League.”
“The start of this competition this weekend is another important step forward in growing the game and our clubs. It is creating more opportunities for our young players to develop their skills and play in a national pathway competition. It will be exciting to see the new crop of players emerge from this seven-week competition.”
“The introduction of this competition is another important part in delivering our PNGRFL Pathway and Performance strategy plan in creating a national youth pathway competition.”
The completion of the seven-week NYC competition will culminate with a Grand Final on the weekend of the 28-29 June.
 

Twizzle

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excellent move and good response from PNG, its good to get those pathways in place early
 

jim_57

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4,893
Great steps in the right direction. In an ideal world by 2028-2030 it’d be great to see a ‘pyramid’ looking something like:

- School Comps
- Club Junior Comps
- Regional rep tournaments
- NRL & Hunters development programs

Feeding in to:
- PNG Hunters Cyril Connell Cup (U-16s)
- PNG Hunters Mal Meninga Cup (U-18s)
- PNG Digicel Cup NYC (U-19s)
- PNG NRL team Jersey Flegg or returning NRL youth comp (U-21s)

- (Maybe) PNG NRL team SG Ball (U-19s). To fill the gap between 18-21 in the Australian systems.

Feeding in to:
- Digicel Cup
- PNG Hunters QLD Cup
- PNG NRL team

A fair bit of work to do to get there but all that along with the salary cap exemption will definitely help them develop local talent.
 

mikail-eagle

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3,190
The Australian High Commission in PNG really getting into the pathways development work.


It was wonderful to have Araga Eresi, Malcolm Pang Jnr, Ukerey Sabumei, Daisy Watalie and staff from the PNG NRL Academy showcase the program at the #YumiStapWantaim launch this week, after their major finale at the National School Championships Grand Finals on Saturday in front of a crowd of 1000 people.
As Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence, Australia proudly celebrates our enduring partnership, shared values, and deep people-to-people ties with PNG.
What better way to celebrate this connection and friendship than through sport? Supported by the Australian Government through the PNGAus Partnership, the PNG NRL Academy identifies and develops the next generation of male and female rugby league players, selecting standout players from school competitions throughout the country.
497821360_1147042094124085_8875558362923233318_n.jpg

Last year 53 per cent of the 2024 Junior Orchids squad came from the Academy and 59 per cent of 2025 Open Age Boys players were selected to play in the PNGRFL National Youth Competition. We are proud of the PNG NRL Academy delivering real and tangible results in rugby league pathways development in PNG.
We stand together with PNG when they join the NRL in 2028 and will be there step by step in their ambitions in establishing a pathway for a PNG women’s NRL team through a premier Australian competition.
497764557_1147042097457418_4167995240693726072_n.jpg
 

ALX25

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4,435
Feeding in to:
- PNG Hunters Cyril Connell Cup (U-16s)
- PNG Hunters Mal Meninga Cup (U-18s)
- PNG Digicel Cup NYC (U-19s)
- PNG NRL team Jersey Flegg or returning NRL youth comp (U-21s)

Cyril Connell is U17's and Mal Meninga is U19's. Hopefully they can be added to the QRL junior competitions next year.
 

jim_57

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Staff member
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4,893
Cyril Connell is U17's and Mal Meninga is U19's. Hopefully they can be added to the QRL junior competitions next year.

I thought they were 16s & 18s & Matt’s & SG Ball were 17s & 19s?

Either way getting Hunters in both next year would be ideal.
 

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