SP PNG Hunters coach Matthew Church in only his second trip outside of Port Moresby spent three exciting days in Enga and Southern Highlands as part of his Christmas holidays during the break before the team’s pre-season camp.
Church’s first venture outside of Port Moresby was a three-day visit to Kokopo and Rabaul in the East New Britain last week.
His Highlands leg included a round-trip from Mt Hagen Western Highlands through to Wabag, Enga, overnight at Malyam Hotel.
An early morning drive the next day to Sirunki, Laiagam and Kandep in Enga and on to Mendi in the Southern Highlands.

SP Hunters Coach Matthew Church has named a 37 man pre-season train on squad in preparation for the 2021 Queensland Intrust Super Cup season.

Grand finalist in the Digicel Cup Kroton Hela Wigmen and Lae Snax Tigers have eight players each in the squad.

Church said the squad will assemble in Port Moresby on Sunday November 29 for a month long pre-season training camp.

"They will undergo medical and fitness tests on arrival" Church said.

Greetings to all our rugby league family and welcome to our 29th edition of Fulltime Reserve, a weekly column to discuss all matters rugby league in our favourite newspaper The National.
The Papua New Guinea Football Rugby League (PNGRFL) had several major rugby league announcements this week.
First was the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final appearance and win by PNG international and Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam.
On behalf of PNGRFL and our rugby league family in PNG, we congratulate him for this tremendous personal and national achievement.

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has approved the relocation of the SP Hunters to Australia to compete in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup next season.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said in a statement yesterday that he had advised Queensland Rugby League (QRL) chairman Bruce Hatcher of the decision.
“PNGRFL had been directed by the QRL to consider the option of relocating the Hunters to Australia for next season,” he said.
“This was based on advice from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Queensland Health Department that international travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic would be maintained next year.”
Tsaka said the advice was taken into consideration prior to making the decision which would ensure the Hunters’ participation in the second-tier rugby league competition.

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League has joined the people of Simbu and all rugby league followers in mourning the death of former PNG Kumul captain Bal Numapo.

Numapo aged 57 from Ogel village in the Sinesine Yongumul District in Simbu Province died following a severe stroke at 10.00am last Saturday August 1, 2020 in Kundiawa.

PNGRFL Chairman Sandis Tsaka said Bal Numapo debuted as PNG Kumul No. 85 against Great Britain on August 5, 1984 against Great Britain in Mt Hagen as a centre. He went on to represent PNG on 14 more occasions scoring four tries, kicking 18 goals and a field goal.