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 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.

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) has announced the format in which the finals of the 2019 Digicel Cup will be played starting this weekend.

Manager of the PNGNRLC Mr. Stanley Hondina says, due to the competition expanding to have 12 franchises this season, the top six finals format adopted from the Queensland Rugby League Intrust Super Cup (QRL ISC) will be used.

The top six teams to play in the 2019 Digicel Cup Finals Series include; the minor premiers, Lae Snax Tigers, Jiwaka Provincial Government (JPG) Whagi Tumbe, Agmark Rabaul Gurias, Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, Wamp Nga Mt. Hagen Eagles and the Kroton Hela Wigmen.

Returning to the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League competition, the Digicel Cup, after a two year suspension, the Mt Hagen Eagles have shown that they will be a force to reckon with in 2019 after they defeated the defending Premiers, the Goroka Lahanis 8 – 6 in Hagen.

​ENGA Mioks captain Supa Kokote, pictured, earned his side valuable two-points for the competition leaders as they edged the Hela Wigmen 18-14 in their round six fixture at the National Football Stadium yesterday.
Kokote with his man-of-the-match performance put his body on the line in defence and attack and made several telling breaks to contribute to the visiting side’s sixth consecutive victory of the Digicel Cup 2018 season.

​THE Port Moresby Vipers got back into the winners’ circle with a 38-8 thrashing of the Gulf Isou in their Digicel Cup round six Mothers’ Day game in Port Moresby yesterday.
Rookie winger Shane Haro, playing his third match, bagged three tries in a memorable performance at the National Football Stadium which earned man-of-the-match award.
“It was Mothers’ Day and we dedicated the game to our mothers,” Vipers manager Ron Titie said.
“The 30-point margin was special day for us.”

​LAE Snax Tigers coach Stanley Tepend says he was relieved that his side managed to grind out an 18-10 win over the Petroleum Resources Kutubu-backed Mendi Muruks on Sunday.
“We’re pretty relieved to get that win,” Tepend said yesterday.
“It’s not like we haven’t been trying hard this season. The boys have put in the effort but the results just haven’t been coming. We’ve played well but have lost in some games so it was great to finally get a win.”
Tepend said aside from form and confidence issues, especially early on, the side had also been effect by having a different halves combinations over the last four rounds.
“One thing that’s really had an effect on our game this season has been the constant changes in the halves department.