Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has lauded the efforts of the PNG Hunters rugby league team for a stunning performance in the regular season of the Queensland Cup this year, finishing in top four on the ladder.
Prime Minister Marape, in congratulating the Hunters today amidst his tight schedules for international meetings, said the promising Hunters display of talent and skills this year paves the way as Papua New Guinea’s NRL Bid is being considered, in light of PNG and Australian Governments having continued conversations on support for a PNG-based team as the 18th team in Australia’s National Rugby League competition (NRL) should it be given the nod.
PM Marape said his government is working to support the PNG NRL Bid Team as they put forward the Bid to the Australian NRL for consideration and deliberation.
“Conversations on enabling a PNG team in the Australian NRL is centred around promoting national unity, as we near 50 years of anniversary as a nation since Independence in 1975, in a land of so much diversity. Rugby league inspires and brings Papua New Guinea together in a unique way.
“Part of our ambition as a government in enabling a PNG team in the Australian NRL, a highly professional rugby league competition in the Oceania region and even at the world stage, is to create effective pathways for our young people who have the skills and talent to succeed at a professional level, thus enable sports to become a career path for some who may not make it through the normal education system,” said Marape.
In congratulating the Hunters and wishing them well for the finals of the semi- professional Queensland Cup competition, the Prime Minister highlighted that PNG participating in such a competition has proved beneficial for the country as it bids to be the 18th team in the NRL.
Apart from rugby league, Prime Minister Marape also urged other sporting codes in the country to step up to the next stage and enable sports to become a professional career pathway for youths in the country. He also encouraged Ministers for Lower and Higher Education to include sports as part of learning at schools or institutions in the country, for eventual professional career pathways which are aimed to be secured into the future.