PNGRFL concludes football conference
The 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Football Conference successfully ended on Monday in Port Moresby with an intense two days of NRL education and assessment delivered by Matt Harrison of AFS Group.
The candidates representing the 12 clubs received the first ever Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Sports Medical Trainer accreditation at the conclusion of the program.
This significant program organised by PNGRFL demonstrates the importance of game administration and our clubs’ commitment to players’ safety and their wellbeing.
The national meet started last week with Franchise Managers participating in a two-day workshop focused on commercial opportunities, financial reporting, shared standards setting, compliance, governance, player safety and player welfare and policy improvements.
The event continued with the Head Coaches conference held over the weekend under the guidance of Manager of High-Performance Coaching Joe Grima.
Grima took the coaches through on how to utilize technical and tactical coaching, the game analysis system, standard setting, pathway development and live coaching which included observing the Hunters’ interclub trial match on Saturday.
“I am really pleased that the recent two-day Digicel ExxonMobil Cup coaching workshop was highly successful, with enthusiastic engagement from our coaching staff,” Grima said.
“The provided materials, coupled with follow-up opportunities, promise a lasting impact on the PNG coaching program.
“Our coaches' commitment reflects a dedication to continuous improvement within our game in PNG, especially pleasing if we become the NRL 18th Team.”
The purposefully designed conference provided the clubs an opportunity to better prepare for the 2024 season and encourage club professionalism.
Competition Governance Manager Tony Archer said the conference was a demonstration of the importance and investment the game is making to drive club professionalism in the competition to improve the standards.
“This is the first step in ensuring that we work closely with our clubs, develop the skills and opportunities for all within the game,” Archer said.
“We place players’ safety, coach development, and strong franchises at the forefront of our ambition to achieve club professionalism in our Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competition in 2024.
“Our clubs have been provided with education and tools that are equivalent to the NRL.”
PNGRFL chief executive officer Stanley Hondina reiterated that PNGRFL is constantly striving to improve the standards of the game across the country and the conference was a part of how they would provide opportunities for those in rugby league to improve as coaches and managers, but also as people.
“We are focused on family and the community, that we will provide our players a safe environment through training,” Hondina said.