FOOTIE - PNG STYLE
10 October 2006
Former ARL first grade rugby league referee Bill Harrigan recently officiated over the final of the PNG competition. He reported his experience for the Gold Coast Bulletin:
"You have never tasted true rugby league passion until you have been to a Papua New Guinea grand final. I refereed my second in succession last Sunday in Port Moresby and was as amazed as I was in 2005. It is a thrilling, frightening and exhilarating experience.
"The match was not scheduled to start until 3pm and I was intrigued when told we were leaving for the ground at midday. "We won't get in if we leave any later," I was told.
"Arriving at the ground I soon understood. At just after noon the ground was almost packed and there were five lines of people stretching about 300m waiting to get in. I could sense that there were going to be a lot of very disappointed people.
"That was certainly the case, because just as I blew time-on there was a large 'boom' outside the ground and I saw a plume of tear gas rise. Soon after there was a burst of automatic gunfire as the police 'persuaded' those who could not get in to move on.
"Not long after that one of the main gates was pushed over and a stream of people started to pour through. These were met by a wall of police and police dogs. The gate was put back into place and the game started. Every now and again I would hear another tear gas canister explode outside…."
By the way, Mendi Muruks defeated Goroka Luhanis 24-14 in what, on the field anyway, was a good natured game.
Photo: Cashier at Boroko Food World, PNG Gossip Newsletter
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