4 days Ago By John Pangkatana
AMIDST the furore of a chaotic start to season 2025 of the Port Moresby Rugby Football League – the Board has made several changes to the make-up of the competition – that includes the admission of two new clubs, re-entry of Brothers and Souths after a five-year ban, the lifting of suspension of two, while another’s future hangs in the balance. POMRFL board chairman James Naipao yesterday said despite some hiccups along the way, he acknowledged all the clubs for pulling together to ensure all requirements were met to get season 2025 underway this weekend. Dr Naipao said: “Our board has been working overtime with a lot of issues to contend with, but was relieved to say that all systems were set to go.
” He further confirmed decisions by the board to admit two new clubs in Sanso Roosters and Zulu Raiders among four that showed interest to affiliate this season. “Both clubs met most of the vetting process to pass and get the greenlight from the board to be included in the 2025 season. “The board also ratified the re-entry of banned clubs Souths and Brothers, plus the lifting of the suspension of Hanuabada Hawks and Kone Storms,” he said.
He said Hawks and Storms were among three clubs that were suspended for their alleged involvement with another party wanting to take over the management of the league. “Both clubs (Hawks, Storm) have shown that it was their respective managements that were party to the allegations and the club as a whole were not involved,” he explained. Dr Naipao further stated that to get back on side, both clubs had to make changes to their respective executives and provided a statutory declaration to show cause of the genuineness to work with the board.
He said on that move, the board saw fit to lift their suspension and will be set for the start of the season this weekend. The third club – Dobo Warriors – have not made a move to get on side with the current management, and thus remain suspended..
