Super League Champions Wigan Warriors to play Papua New Guinea in Kokopo

Wigan to play PNG. Photo source: Wiganwarriors.com 

A GAME against the Wigan Warriors in Kokopo early next year is expected to be used as a trial for the Papua New Guinea team in preparation for its debut season in Queensland’s  Intrust Super Cup.

The draw for that is expected to be released in a fortnight but the PNG Rugby Football League has been told the first match will be an away game against Redcliffe or Wynumm in Brisbane on March 2.

The match will  be telecast.

PNG’s first home game is the next one, a testing challenge against defending premiers Mackay Cutters in Kokopo on March 8.

PNG Rugby League acting chief executive officer Brad Tassell said that yesterday when outlining plans for the PNG side in one of two of Australia’s second-tier competition next year.  

The English Super League champions have approached PNGRFL about the option of a lead-up match en-route to Australia where they are scheduled to play NRL champions Roosters in Sydney in the annual World Club challenge.

The game against Wigan, if it goes ahead, will be played in Kokopo on February 15.

“We have been approached by Super League champions Wigan about playing a match on February 15 in PNG as a lead-in game to their World Club Challenge match against the Sydney Roosters in Sydney a week later,” Tassell said. 

Tassell took Queensland Rugby League representatives, who arrived in Port Moresby on Monday, including Intrust Super Cup general manager Jamie O’Connor, to Kokopo to visit the venue. 

“We inspected the venue and accommodation places, medical facilities and went through logistics on the games being played there. There is great support and the QRL were extremely happy with the visit, the region and the people.”

Mackay Cutters head coach Kim Williams was part of the visiting representatives as they will be the first team to Kokopo for the game against the PNG side in round two.

“He (Williams) was very impressed by everything he saw. 

“The QRL are meeting with NBC and EMTV to discuss broadcast rights to matches while in Port Moresby.” Tassell said PNGRL deputy chairman Sandis Tsaka would  accompany them to Brisbane today and would attend a club chief executive officers’ meeting tomorrow.

They will later attend a media conference to sign the participation agreement, officially confirming PNG’s entry into the Queensland Cup.

Tassell said PNG had already confirmed its pre-season schedule. That includes a game against Northern Pride in Cairns on Sunday, February 9, and either the Central Capras in Rockhampton on February 15 if the game against Wigan does not  eventuate.

“One thing at a time mate – we are concentrating on the AGM this weekend, then the announcement on Monday of the head coach,” Tassell said.

The National