29/10/2023
By Dennis Gati
PNGRFL Independent Director &
Founding Chairman on the NIRFL Board.
Sunday 29th October, 2023.
Good morning New Ireland...
While our NIRFL Bid to participate in the 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup is before the the NRLC Board for approval let us take a moment to look back at how far we have come.
A person that comes to mind in this time and season is no other than the NIRFL Franchise Board Chairman Solomon Pela. After our brother Gibson left, Solo took over as Provincial Works Manager. A rugby league diehard - little did New Ireland know that his presence in New Ireland would usher a wave of developments not only in the transport and infrastructure sector but more so in the social sector.
Back in Uni, Solo was instrumental in reforms within the VC Cup playing along Justin Olam and others in the Unitech Spartans.
Upon his arrival he immediately blended into the N4C Rugby League Club as President. The DOW Kavieng RFL MOA was established, Kavieng RFL Working Committee & when Sandis Tsaka, Stanley Hondina and late Aloise Tobata arrived in 2017 to endorse the NIRFL Board under leadership of Innaugural Board Chairman Dennis Gati - Solomon was appointed NIRFL Bid Committee Chairman, a role he played until 2020 when PEC endorsed him NIRFL Franchise Board Chairman.
When appointed Bid/Franchise Board Chairman in 2017 Solo began negotiations with Sir to build a stadium - its took almost three years of talks until in 2020 we all witnessed the Kavieng Stadium Ground Breaking Ceremony.
Behind the scenes, Chief Sports Coordinator Byron Chan & Governor Sir J held talks with PNGRFL Chairman and top level management to create inroads into the codes development. Going in as Chairman PNGRFL, Sandis had a lot of reforms going on since taking office in 2013 to restructure the game and connect the rural community leagues to the top tier competitions, Digicel cup, hunters, Kumuls etc... Talks between Sir J, Byron & Sandis continued until PNGRFL decided it was only proper and fitting to use New Ireland to trial the new governance and management framework.
With Solo pushing the Franchise agenda in Kavieng, the indicators were aligned and all fell into place.
Initial plans in 2017 was for a Lihir based New Ireland Franchise - this was launched by the PNGRFL Board in 2018 at the Bulldogs Conference Facility, Nehemiah Academy led by All Schools RL Chairlady at that time Rhondy Badcock.
However we, NIP didn't have a home venue so it all went back to the drawing board.
Fast forward to 2023, its been over 7 years of lobbying, investing millions of kina into facility development, firming up government and corporate support, building up competitive rural based community rugby league competitions in all our 10 LLGs and implementing the PNGRFL New Ireland Model - the reformed governance & management structure of managing the game across the country.
As we give credit to our Chief - the last man standing, all our efforts, the commitment of all our volunteers and dedication of the New Ireland people to realize this provincial aspiration has all created inroads to this defining moment as we prepare to take the game to a whole new level and demonstrate to rest of the country the results of the implementation of the PNGRFL New Ireland Model over the last 4 years - 2020, 2021, 2022 and this year 2023.
Not only have we grown the game from 1 affiliated league back then to 12 affiliated leagues in 2023 - the shared knowledge & collective experiences we have gone through now places New Ireland in a better position then ever before to influence the game and bring a unique style of Island Rugby into the NRLC. We are not just about entering the NRLC, we are about adding value to the game now and in the years to come.
An Outstanding New Irelander who served whole heartedly in New Ireland while he was here continues to do so with even more determination and great commitment.
Last Friday October 27, 2023 under his guidance and leadership as Chairman of the NIRFL Bid/Franchise Board - New Ireland has finally presented its bid for a spot int he 2024 PNGRFL NRLC Digicel ExxonMobil Cup.
And with the support of the Rt. Hon. Sir Julius Chan GCL, GCMG, KBE, PC, MP - Governor of New Ireland, our two Open Members of Namatanai & Kavieng District, Hon Walter Schnaubelt & Hon. Ian Ling Stucky, all our corporate partners and game development supporters - we are confident New Ireland has presented a very strong case that is now before the PNGRFL NRLC Board.
As all 10 LLGs gather this week for the Provincial Rugby League 9's Competition, may we all stand united in our efforts to continue to grow the game at all levels.
We will showcase the rich diversity of our rural talents in the next two days and not only will our selectors be scouting the NIP 9's Team to participate in the PNG Games come December, they will also be scouting for rural talents as we finalize our 60 men train on squad which we will then trim down to a final 30 for the New Ireland Chiefs.
New Ireland Chiefs - Yumi Goh!!
Everyone
