​THE draw for the upcoming Digicel Cup season has been released with the Rabaul Gurias and Waghi Tumbe opening the campaign at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.
The 12-team competition consists of 16 rounds with the finals to be held in September.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chief executive and acting PNG National Rugby League competition manager Stanley Hondina said the first four rounds of the competition would be played at Port Moresby’s Sir John Guise Stadium and the Lae Rugby League Ground only.

FORMER Papua New Guinea international and Hela Wigmen coach Charlie Wabo says he is optimistic about their title defence in the upcoming Digicel Cup season.
Despite losing a number of his premiership winners from last season, he said with the inclusion of a few rookies alongside their 10 existing players, the Wigmen were eager to retain the title.
“From our preparation and training, I’ve seen that the players look sharp and they are ready to defend the title,” Wabo said.

The 2020 Digicel Cup Premiers launched their 2021 title defense at the Koitaki Country Club on Friday 30th April 2021. The event coincided with the official announcement of the 35 men playing roster. “Having 7 of the 17 players in last year’s Digicel Cup grand final team in SP Hunters is one of the greatest highlights. It is a loss for the club but also good as we can keep the production line going” said Chairman Andy Hetra.

Hetra said, ‘’the team has done well this year with good local talents from Hela being drafted into pre-season that makes up a third of the team. We have signed up few talents from other centers to have the balance and depth to be competitive and we are happy with the playing stock we have’’.

​MINJ in Jiwaka and Goroka in Eastern Highlands will host this weekend’s Digicel Cup round-eight matches, says Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition manager Stanley Hondina.
And if both venues comply with the PNG Rugby Football League’s Banis Protocols, Kimbe in West New Britain will get the chance see their Cutters at home before the regular season ends.
Hondina said in a statement yesterday that the challenge was now on Minj and Goroka to deliver good quality rugby league games without compromising the protocols.

By Michael Philip
​It was without any notice but the young gun Five-Eight from Tavui in East New Britain Province, Wesley Batari slightly join the Southern Highlands Franchise Team, The Mendi Muruks two weeks ago for the start of the 2020 Digicel Cup campaign.
The decision by the young five-eight was the only option for him to venture into his Rugby League Career as a young rising star Five-Eight. Batari who played for the Gurias last year wearing the number 6 Jersy alongside his half-back Who is also now leading the rampaging Hela Wigmen, Solomon Pokare. Last year Batari was spotted by the PNGNRL and was put on a spotlight for his chance to join the Hunters and The PNG Kumuls due to its own style of playing rugby.

​HELA Wigmen coach Charlie Wabo says the inclusion of former SP Hunters centre Noel Zeming as the Digicel Cup team’s trainer has helped get the best out of his players.
Last year’s runners-up Wigmen and defending champions Lae Tigers are the only unbeaten sides this season.
Former Kumuls rake Wabo told The National yesterday that Zeming, who played two tests for Papua New Guinea, had fit in well and pushed the players at training every week.

TIGERS owner Ian Chow says Lae can host more Digicel Cup matches if the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) wants to move games from Port Moresby over the lockdown.
“Digicel Cup matches draw big crowds to the Lae Rugby League Ground,” he said.
“But due to the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League’s Covid-19 protocols, we’ve been restricting attendance so far this season.
“Having said that, Lae is free from the Covid-19.
“We still have more fans who are eager to attend matches but sometimes don’t gain entry.

The round five of the Digicel Cup Competition in Port Moresby for this weekend will go ahead following an official approval letter from the Office of the Pandemic Controller David Manning.
The Competition will be hosted with the following strict measures;
1. No spectators at the Games
2. All Games to be broadcast for home viewing
3. Continue Stringent COVID-19 Protocols with added
measures for conduct of teams
4. Adhere to the Mandatory Mask Measures for POM
5. All POM based teams to be in closed camps for the
lockdown period
6. All special permission request for domestic travels for
outside team’s schedule to play in POM; and
7. Outside teams to adhere to strict fly in, fly out protocols

The Central Dabaris Rugby League take down the Gulf Isou 18-6 in the final match for today, Round 1 of the Digicel Cup 2020.

Grab your tickets at the gate for tomorrow's matches at the Sir John Guise Stadium and the Lae Rugby League oval!

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The Agmark Gurias have defeated the Wamp Nga Mt. Hagen Eagles in the 1st of the Digicel Cup games for 2020 at the Sir John Guise Stadium. The Gurias won 30 - 10.
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THE Digicel Cup is set to kick off next month with twelve teams confirmed to compete in the country’s premier rugby league competiton.
According to the season draw, the competition will have 18 rounds of home-and-away matches played in nine centres across the country.
The teams participating this year are the Port Moresby Vipers, Central Dabaris, Gulf Isou, Lae Tigers, Rabaul Gurias, Kimbe Cutters, Goroka Lahanis, Waghi Tumbe, Mt Hagen Eagles, Enga Mioks, Mendi Muruks and Hela Wigmen.