Brad Tassell steps down as PNGRFL CEO

Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League CEO, Brad Tassell has resigned.  In a media statement, he said “I have had enough and have informed PNGRFL Chairman Sandis Tsaka that I cannot continue anymore as CEO of the PNGRFL,” Brad Tassell.

“I have been the target of a constant and malicious campaign against me since I took on the position and my health and my family have suffered because of it. I can no longer ignore it or accept it and cannot continue to perform at the high standards I set for myself.

The death threats against me, the threats against my family and the continual campaign to slur, undermine and tarnish my image has got to a point where I simply cannot and do not want to do the job anymore.

The pressure has been unbearable on my health, my partner and my family and I will not tolerate it anymore. As such I have informed the Chairman I will no longer continue in my role as CEO – enough is enough.

I, the Board and staff are fully aware there has been a continual campaign against anything we do as an organization, however the attacks have become more and more personal and that I cannot brush aside and have sought legal advice on.

Administrators of social media site Worldwide PNG RL News managed by a person who sits behind a computer in Brisbane have been a main instigator and have waged a malicious campaign against the PNGRFL, the Hunters, myself and certain staff member’s. I have ignored and kept quiet about the rubbish going on but not anymore. They have tried to undermine the program by constantly contacting players and staff and spreading false and malicious information in a direct attempt to undermine any programs implemented. They will not be satisfied until all the great things that have started in Rugby League in PNG have been dismantled. Social media in PNG is literally out of control and requires urgent attention.

Former and current PNGRFL Rugby League Administrators whom I wont name here due to legal reasons have also formed a group well known to us whose sole purpose is to destroy any attempt to deliver a progressive, properly managed national rugby league program. They will not be satisfied until Rugby League goes back to the mess they created years ago and that must be stopped and fought hard against.



I want to say I love PNG Rugby League and the potential it has. It has basically been my whole life for the past 4 plus years and everyone involved has achieved so much in such a short space of time. The Hunters players and staff are like my own family and I will sorely miss just the contact and seeing them grow and perform.

I truly believe PNG will be a dominant force in the next few years and I have worked my guts out to see the Hunters program and our other National programs actually delivering consistent outcomes and being managed professionally and performing at the highest level possible.

I would like to thank Chairman Sandis Tsaka in particular for his support and know the PNGRFL is in good hands under his leadership. I have left the program in good shape. All accounts are up to date and audited, processes and procedures are in place and there is a genuine revival of the game in PNG and enthusiasm for its future.

It is sad for me that I wont be here when the Hunters win a premiership or when the Kumul’s make the semi finals of the next world cup. I will still be an avid supporter and follower. Hopefully I can look back and think I played some part in that success to come, but for now my health and my family comes first.”

Chairman Sandis Tsaka said it was a sad day for him and the Board;

“Brad has given so much and we have taken so much and he is literally exhausted. I have worked closely with Brad for a long time now and seen the mountain of work he does and what he goes through daily. He works 16-hour days as we cannot afford the staff other clubs have. He has never sought or asked for credit or recognition for his work – he just gets the job done and has done so much for Rugby League in PNG. He will be irreplaceable and we will struggle to find someone of his caliber.

I hate what certain people have done to him and the toll it has taken on him personally and his family. It is our attitude towards a good man that has done this and if we do not change our way of thinking and our attitude we wont achieve what we want to as a rugby league nation. Brad tried to change that and I and the Board did not want to see him go but he has made up his mind and his health and family comes first.”