Mahlon WINSTON

Morobe Pride sponsor and Lae City Lord Mayor Jacob Maragau has urged Rigo Rice Cup organisers to shorten the competition format and appoint a neutral referee for the grand final following his team’s semifinal win.Maragau said supporting Morobe Pride through a tournament that has stretched over six to seven months has been costly. He estimated his spending had exceeded K150,000, including accommodation and the costs of running the team.“It is very, very expensive and a costly exercise,” he said, appealing to tournament organisers to schedule future competitions over a shorter period, preferably during the off-season. He said a more compact format would reduce costs and the time commitment for sponsors and players, many of whom have family responsibilities.Maragau also raised concerns about refereeing and called for an independent official to control the grand final. He suggested bringing in a referee from outside the participating regions, including a Digicel Cup official or someone from the New Guinea Islands, to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.“We would like a neutral referee,” he said. “For the betterment of the tournament and its reputation, the grand final should have an independent official.”He warned that concerns over officiating could affect Morobe Pride’s willingness to return in future, and said the issue had also been a concern during the previous grand final.Furthermore, Maragau warned the organizers that credibility of the competition could be lost in the near future if it maintains the way it is running. Teams from outside centres could stop attending the competition due to the overall cost implications of having to participate.Comparing Rigo Rice competition to the Ipatas Cup, he urged the organizers to learn from the premier off-season competition like the Ipatas Cup and do some adjustments before the tournament becomes dissolved. Maragau emphasized that in the current structure, all participating teams are responsible for taking care of all its expenses including travel fares, accommodations, meals, player allowances, plus other expenses."If you look at it, some teams could spend over K150,000 or K200,000 and more. Does the prize money cater for the expenses that we've made? Is the competition worth the expenses we've made? When teams start asking these questions, they lose interest to take part and that's an area they really need to look into and come up with a better plan to address these issues to maintain the competition," said Maragau.He made suggestions that maybe Rigo Rice Cup organizers could look at meeting some of the costs like the players' accommodations and meals. Especially for the teams from outside centres that wish to participate in the competition. Despite his criticism, Maragau thanked tournament chairman, the organising team for providing players with another opportunity to compete after the Inter-City competition and for giving selectors a chance to assess talents.Morobe Pride’s semifinal victory has secured the team a place in the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup grand final

Morobe Pride coach Mark Mexico has praised his players’ resilience and discipline after the team’s 22-18 semifinal victory over the Northern Master Mark 5mile Heights to secure a place in the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup grand final next month.Mexico said the team overcame seven months of challenges, including limited funding and difficulties meeting food and living costs while based in Port Moresby.“We’ve come a long way. The boys worked hard through many setbacks and ups and downs. Despite the challenges, they believed in themselves and in our training programme. I’m very proud of them," he said.Mexico credited the players’ commitment and work ethic for helping the team progress to the final.Morobe Pride also serves as a development pathway for young players, most of whom come from the Lae Rugby League competition. The club gives emerging talent an opportunity to showcase their skills and pursue opportunities with teams in the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup.Several players who came through the programme have gone on to play for Digicel Cup teams, including the Snax Tigers and Enga Mioks and the Morobe Kandes before returning to contribute to Morobe Pride.Mexico said this year’s squad is largely made up of new players, with the club focused on giving young talent the chance to experience higher-level competition and perform under pressure. He said many of the less-established players had impressed during the tournament.Six experienced players have also helped guide the younger members of the squad, providing leadership and direction, he said.Mexico thanked the team’s sponsor, Lae City Lord Mayor Jacob Maragau, whom the club affectionately calls “Daddy”. He also thanked the supporters who have backed Morobe Pride this season and last.With the grand final approaching, he urged Morobeans and other supporters in Port Moresby to turn out and cheer on the team.“We need the support of all Morobeans living in Port Moresby. Please come and support us in the grand final," Mexico said.The Morobe Pride will face 3rd City Rangers I'm the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup grandfinal. The winner walks away with K300,000 prize money and the Cup.

The Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers will head into the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup grand final next month after successful matches played over the weekend in Port Moresby city.Both teams will meet and battle for the K300,000 first prize in the Cup grand final on November 1st, after winning their respective semi-final matches on Sunday 18th October at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, to secure places in the championship decider.Morobe Pride booked its grand-final berth with a hard-fought 22–18 victory over Northern Master Mark 5mile Heights in the first semi-final, while 3rd City Rangers defeated Ave RLC 20–4 to secure the other spot in the final.The two victories have set up an exciting grand-final showdown, with both teams now one win away from claiming the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup championship and the tournament's biggest cash prize.Rigo Rice Cup Chairman Mr. McSteve Polly said the competition had reached a significant milestone after approximately eight to ten months of intense competition involving teams from grassroots communities.Polly acknowledged the challenges experienced throughout the season, including logistical difficulties and changes in venues, but said the tournament had continued to provide an important platform for emerging rugby league talent.Despite the challenges, Polly said the tournament had showcased talented players who were seeking opportunities to progress to higher levels of rugby league.Polly said the Rigo Rice Cup had given grassroots players an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, including some who had previously missed out on selection or opportunities in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup.He welcomed the presence of Digicel Cup coach Stanley Tepend and his assistant coach, who attended the matches to observe players and assess potential talent for higher-level competitions.Polly said the involvement of experienced coaches and rugby league personnel was a positive development for the tournament and the wider rugby league community.He said competitions such as the Rigo Rice Cup were important in developing local talent and creating pathways for players to pursue opportunities beyond community-level football.The chairman also welcomed the strong turnout during the finals, describing it as an encouraging sign for the growth of rugby league and the continued support of the sporting community.The 2026 Rigo Rice Cup offers a total prize pool of K500,000 for the top four teams.Under the announced prize allocation, the grand-final winner will receive K300,000, while the runner-up will take home K100,000.The two losing semi-finalists will contest third and fourth place, with the third-placed team to receive K80,000 and the fourth-placed team K20,000.The prize money adds further significance to the grand final, with Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers now preparing to compete for the championship and the largest share of the tournament's rewards.Meanwhile, Polly acknowledged that officiating had been a concern for some participating teams throughout the competition.He said complaints were part of competitive sport, particularly when teams were dissatisfied with match decisions or results. However, he maintained that the competition had engaged experienced referees and officials to oversee the matches.Polly said the organisers were generally satisfied with the standard of officiating but recognised that feedback from participating teams could help identify areas requiring improvement.He said the concerns raised would provide an opportunity for organisers to review the competition's administration and make improvements ahead of future seasons.As preparations continue for the November 1 grand final, Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers will now turn their attention to the decisive match, with the K300,000 first prize and the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup title awaiting the eventual champions.

East New Britain law enforcement has executed a massive, multi-front crackdown on crime and communal violence, culminating in the sentencing of 105 individuals, the arrest of 125 additional suspects, and an active manhunt following a prison break.The Kokopo District Court on Monday, 13 October, convicted and sentenced 105 people following a violent clash involving three villages. All defendants pleaded guilty and received a two-year imprisonment sentence, which was fully suspended in favor of a two-year good behavior bond. Any breach of this bond carries a K2,000 penalty or immediate activation of the prison term.Police Commissioner David Manning commended the swift court outcome, stating it sends a clear message that communal violence will not be tolerated.Despite the court's ruling, separate violence erupted in the Raluana LLG between Nanuk, Tinganalom, and Ranguna villages, resulting in arson and a recent murder. Following intense negotiations, police arrested 85 people:29 suspects from Tinganalom29 suspects from Nanuk27 suspects from RangunaAdditionally, a separate tactical sweep led to the arrest of 40 individuals from Gelagela. Authorities note that this proactive sweep effectively deterred out-of-control gatherings over the weekend, with the community expressing strong hope that these targeted sweeps will permanently halt regional violence.In a breakthrough for a separate case, personnel from the Gelagela Police Post and the Drugs Unit successfully charged two juvenile males and one adult male with the murder of a Gelagela man who died last week from dual stab wounds.Police and Correctional Institutional Services (CIS) personnel are actively hunting for three high-risk escapees currently at large in the community. Late last week, four inmates broke out of the Kerevat Corrective Institution. Due to the swift, immediate action of the Kerevat Corrections Commander and CIS staff, one escapee was instantly recaptured, while a joint security operation remains underway to track down the remaining three.On Sunday, 18 October, Rabaul police intercepted and apprehended several men caught red-handed digging up Telikom PNG infrastructure wiring. Criminal charges are being processed as investigators tie the suspects to a wider localized wire-theft ring.Amid the heavy operational weekend, ENB Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Chief Superintendent Amanda Kates highly praised local Year 12 students for celebrating their national examination completions responsibly, noting that police responded to only a single minor noise complaint. "I thank the students and wish them well in whatever they do from this point on," Chief Superintendent Kates stated.

PNG LNG Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou says his side can lift its performance as the tournament progresses after opening with a win over Lebanon.Speaking at a post-match press conference, Demetriou described the Kumuls’ performance as “decent” and said the team had shown signs of rust after several players went about a month without playing.“It’s always a bit rusty, but as the competition goes on we’ll play a lot more free-flowing and a lot more fluent,” he said. “We still scored 40-odd points, so considering that we’re going to get better, it’s good signs.”Demetriou said Lebanon had been a tough opponent, with experienced NRL and Queensland Cup players in its squad. Although Lebanon had not played together for about three years, he said its performances at the previous World Cup showed it could be competitive.The win was particularly important given the strength of the Kumuls’ pool, Demetriou said. He praised the players for handling the pressure and thanked the home crowd for its support, adding that the team would need an even louder backing in its next match.Looking ahead, Demetriou said the Kumuls needed to improve their attacking shape and manage their sets more effectively. He said a run of kicks that went dead in seven-tackle sets put the team under unnecessary pressure and forced its forwards to defend for extended periods.“We have to end sets on our terms and make it difficult for Samoa to get some front-foot footy,” he said. “But on the flip side of that, we need to play our footy. I believe in what we can do and the style of footy we can play will trouble any team in the world.”Demetriou said the team had also been affected by heat and fatigue but expected training to help the players become more fluent during the week.He explained that Bailey was introduced from the bench because he had completed only two full training sessions with the group. Demetriou opted to start with players who had previously played together and understood his system, saying Bailey’s contribution later in the match helped stabilize the team and gave the Kumuls more options for the next game.Captain Rhyse Martin praised the team’s work in setting up his goal-kicking opportunities. Martin said he had converted 17 of his 18 attempts and credited his routine, practice and 12 years of kicking in Papua New Guinea for his consistency.“Today the boys kept the tries pretty close in front of the sticks, so they weren’t too challenging,” he said. “It all comes back to practice and process. That’s all I do every week, just trying to nail my routine.”Martin also spoke positively about the development of Gareth, saying his time in London had helped build his confidence. He said Gareth made a strong contribution and helped put the Kumuls on the front foot early.The captain said the team would continue to focus on its strengths, particularly playing through the middle and using its power game to create opportunities for its outside players.

The PNG LNG Kumuls unleashed a clinical attacking masterclass to defeat a plucky Lebanon Cedars side 42–18 at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, launching their 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign in spectacular fashion.Halves pairing Gairo Voro and Finley Glarestepped up seamlessly to control the game. Voro ignited the home crowd inside the opening seven minutes, slicing through the defense to score the opening try. Ten minutes later, North Queensland Cowboys flyer Robert Derby crossed the left wing to push the advantage to 12–0. A brilliant 45-metre bust from Voro then blew the game open, setting up second-row forward Nixon Putt to extend the Kumuls' dominant lead to 18–0.Lebanon refused to back down before the break. Wigan Warriors winger Abbas Miski capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 35th minute, and Tony Sukkar added another try on the stroke of halftime. The quick double from the Cedars sent both teams into the sheds with PNG holding an 18–12 lead.The Kumuls quickly restored their breathing room early in the second half. Finley Glare pounced on a loose pass to barge over, before prop Epel Kapinias crash-landed beside the posts courtesy of a deft short ball from veteran lock Jack de Belin, stretching the scoreline to 30–12. Lebanon struck back briefly when Khaled Rajab broke through the line to set up Miski's second try of the afternoon, cutting the deficit to 30–18.With eight minutes remaining, skipper Rhyse Martin sealed the victory, crashing over for a well-deserved try before converting his own score.The final exclamation point came from debutant Bailey Biondi-Odo. Hooking star Edwin Ipape rolled a clever grubber into the in-goal area, which was gathered cleanly by Biondi-Odo to mark his first appearance in the famous red, black, and gold jersey with a debut try.Skipper Rhyse Martin was flawless with the boot all afternoon, kicking a perfect 7-from-7 conversions to orchestrate the commanding 42–18 victory.

The Papua New Guinea Orchids made a spectacular start to their 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign, overwhelming France 58–4 in front of a passionate home crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. Playing their first-ever World Cup match on home soil, PNG took immediate control under the scorching heat. They put on an attacking masterclass to carry a commanding 32–0 lead into the halftime break, leaving the French side with a mountain to climb. France started the second half with renewed determination, forcing an early line drop-out before capitalizing on a PNG error. Manon Samarra crossed the line to claim France's only try of the match, but the conversion was unsuccessful, bringing the score to 32–4. Any hopes of a French comeback were swiftly dashed as the Orchids responded in clinical fashion. Winger Naomi Kelly crossed for her second try of the afternoon, sparking a dominant second-half display. Kelly went on to score two more times, finishing with an incredible four-try haul. Her performance equaled the Orchids' international record for most tries in a single match, matching Belinda Gwasamun's 2022 World Cup record against Brazil.PNG crossed the line 12 times in total. Fleur Ginn, Shellie Long, and Tia Molo each bagged impressive doubles, while former Wallaroos rugby union player Ivania Wong also showcase her blistering pace to score between the posts. Captain Elsie Albert, who led from the front with a powerful performance in the forward pack, expressed how meaningful the victory was for the squad."The win feels incredibly good for the team, and doing it in front of our home supporters provided a major boost," Albert said. She added that the Orchids were highly pleased with the collective performance, executing exactly what they had rehearsed on the training paddock.The Orchids will look to carry this immense momentum forward into their Round 2 pool match, where they will remain at home to face Fiji. 

Toa Samoa launched their 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign with a historic, record-shattering 78–4 victory over France at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium on Friday 16 October.The 74-point victory was a record-breaking statement from Toa Samoa, who crossed for 14 tries and controlled the match with pace, power and attacking precision. France managed just one try, scored by Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet.Sua Fa’alogo led Samoa’s charge, scoring four tries. Benaiah Ioelu added two, while Deine Mariner, Jermaine McEwen, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Stephen Crichton, Shawn Blore, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Izack Tago and Francis Molo also crossed.The match also offered a memorable start to the tournament for several Samoan players making their World Cup debuts. Jermaine McEwen scored, while Francis Manuleleua marked his debut with a try and was named Player of the Match.Samoa coach Ben Gardiner praised his team’s cohesion and defensive effort after the dominant performance. Co-captain Junior Paulo dedicated the win to Samoan supporters around the world, according to match coverage.The result leaves France with an immediate challenge as it looks to recover from a heavy opening defeat. French coach Laurent Frayssinous pointed to the gap in depth and skill between the teams and said his side had struggled early.Although the scoreline underlined Samoa’s attacking strength, the most striking feature was the team’s ability to sustain pressure throughout the match. Toa Samoa now carry considerable momentum into the next stage of the tournament.

Papua New Guinea has joined forces with North Pacific nations in Palau this week for a pivotal regional workshop focused on strengthening athlete development and high-performance sport pathways across the Pacific.Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) Secretary General Desmond Kaviagu and Performance Officer John Tekwie represented the country at the second North Pacific High-Performance Workshop, which took place from 12 to 16 October 2026.Delivered under the Pacific-Aus Sports Brisbane 2032 Games Pathways Program, the five-day workshop brought together leaders from 10 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). They partnered alongside key regional and global governing bodies, including:The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)The International Olympic Committee (IOC)Oceania Sport and the Oceania Paralympic CommitteeThe Pacific Games CouncilVarious regional sport federationsThe workshop directly builds on a foundational framework developed during a previous regional meeting in Palau in March. Throughout the week, participants focused heavily on turning that framework into practical, high-impact action.Key strategic sessions included reviewing national athletic performances at the recent Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, benchmarking regional athlete readiness, and mapping out precise development pathways toward major upcoming international events:2027 Pacific Games in TahitiLos Angeles 2028 Olympic GamesBrisbane 2032 Olympic GamesA primary outcome of the workshop is the creation of a fully costed and resourced national action plan for each participating country. These plans will outline immediate priorities and concrete steps to reinforce domestic high-performance systems.For Papua New Guinea, this workshop provides a crucial opportunity to establish a highly coordinated approach to elite athlete preparation, sports science support, and long-term planning. The PNGOC’s participation will directly shape the strategic framework required to ensure Team PNG athletes have the world-class pathways and institutional support necessary to podium at the highest levels of global sport.

The East Sepik Provincial Health Authority (ESPHA) recently hosted a prominent joint delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations agencies, and the National Department of Health (NDoH) to address critical gaps in rural healthcare delivery.The five-day official visit, which concluded yesterday, 16 October, was led by Dr. Rajendra Yadav, the WHO Representative and Head of Country Office in Papua New Guinea. The mission focused on gaining a first-hand understanding of frontline health services and identifying strategic pathways to strengthen healthcare systems across the province.The mission commenced with a comprehensive briefing at the Village Inn Hotel in Wewak, where ESPHA executives outlined the province’s current health status, key milestones, operational challenges, and resource priorities.Dr. Yadav reassured ESPHA management, board members, and staff that the mission was strictly collaborative rather than administrative.“We are here not to assess, but to learn from you," Dr. Yadav emphasized. "We want to know your challenges and struggles and how we can assist in improving healthcare delivery for our people.”To witness the realities of rural medical care, the high-level delegation conducted extensive field visits to several key provincial facilities, including:Maprik District HospitalNaramko Community Health PostSassoya Health CentreTumarau Sub-Health CentreHuliwa and Passam Aid PostsDuring these site visits, delegates observed active medical operations and held consultative meetings with frontline health workers, ward members, and community leaders.The primary objectives of the mission centered on revitalizing primary healthcare, boosting routine immunization coverage, and ensuring the reliable delivery of essential health services. Moving forward, the joint visit aims to foster deeper institutional collaboration between ESPHA, state agencies, UN partners, and local communities to build a more resilient health framework for East Sepik.

Police will be out in full force when Port Moresby hosts two 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) matches at Santos National Football Stadium on Saturday, October 17, 2026.Papua New Guinea’s women will face France at 12:15 p.m., followed by the men’s match between Papua New Guinea and Lebanon at 2:25 p.m. The fixtures are part of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup group stage.The Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab said that police would be on full alert to help maintain public safety and ensure a peaceful event.“The eyes of the rugby league world will be on Port Moresby. Police will be out in full force and on full alert. We will not tolerate anyone who wants to disturb the peace in our city,” said Simatab.The superintendent urged residents and visitors to attend the matches, support both Papua New Guinea teams and welcome the visiting sides.“I appeal to everyone to come out to the games and support our teams. Support Lebanon and France as well. Our visitors are our guests, and I want every one of them to experience the true Melanesian welcome,” said superintendent Simatab.The matches offer Port Moresby an opportunity to showcase its hospitality alongside the excitement of international rugby league. The superintendent called on the public to help make the city a safe and welcoming host.“Let us show the world that Port Moresby is a proud, peaceful, and welcoming host city,” Simatab said.

Australia Kangaroos has opened the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with a thrilling 24–22 victory over New Zealand, with Dolphins winger Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick, including the match-winning try in the final minutes.The closely fought contest featured standout performances from both sides, which was decided by a dramatic finish after the Kiwis had led by six points late in the second half.Bostock made an unforgettable start to his Kangaroos career, scoring a 90-metre intercept try in the first half before adding two more in the second half. His decisive third came with four minutes remaining, when Cameron Munster sent a high kick towards the corner and Bostock rose above New Zealand winger Jamayne Isaako to score.Newcastle Knights captain Kalyn Ponga also made a memorable debut in New Zealand colours, crossing twice from fullback. His first try came early in the second half, finishing a well-worked move, while Australia were down to 12 men after Kotoni Staggs got sin binned late in the first half. Ponga later produced a solo effort, stepping past Reece Walsh from 40 metres out to restore New Zealand’s lead at 22–16.Australia’s response came through Walsh, who collected the ball near his own 20-metre line in the 68th minute and raced 80 metres to score. The conversion attempt missed, leaving the Kangaroos trailing 22–20 before Bostock’s late winner completed the comeback.The match was fiercely contested through the middle, with both forward packs bringing plenty of intensity. But it was the brilliance of the backs that ultimately shaped a contest that went down to the wire.Australia led 10–8 late in the first half before Kotoni Staggs was sin-binned for foul play in the 38th minute. New Zealand took the two points from the penalty to level the scores at 10–10 at half-time.The Kiwis made their numerical advantage count after the break, with Ponga’s first try giving them a 16–10 lead. Bostock’s second, finished from a Munster kick in the 56th minute, drew Australia level before Ponga’s second put New Zealand back in front.But it took Walsh's long-range try and Bostock’s spectacular finish to deliver the final eight points of the match and secured a dramatic opening-night win for the Kangaroos.Meanwhile Samoa will play France in the second RLWC match this afternoon at 4:45pm, at CommBank Stadium, Sydney. Papua New Guinea opens their RLWC campaign against Lebanon at the Santos National Football Stadium, at 2:25pm tomorrow, followed by England Vs Tonga at 7:05pm later in the evening at HBF Park, Perth.