Out in the car park, however, things sometimes got out of hand and drunken brawls were fairly common though generally quickly contained.

The last thing the PRL wanted was to attract the attention of the police, who generally turned a blind eye to the gambling but would clamp down if the fighting got too bad.

The players were a mixed bunch. Many came to PNG mainly to play league, lured by job offers and lucrative match payments. Then they’d stay on for years, often after their playing careers ended.

Their expertise added greatly to the quality of the game in PNG and many also contributed in other areas. However others were short termers, some of dubious backgrounds.

For a while, until the League clamped down, clubs would import players for just two or three games leading up to grand finals. One case was former St George centre, Bruce Pollard, brought up for a couple of games specifically to counter the talented Mark Harris. Although past his best, Pollard was a class player.

Others who appeared on the scene turned out to be disasters on and off the field. One from Townsville came up to play for the Hawks. His identity came to light one Sunday afternoon during a reserve grade game when he spotted opposition coach, former first grade Queensland player Pat Pyers, and yelled, “Well, fuck me, its Piggyback Pyers!”

Not to be outdone Pat retorted, “Shut up Cement Head or I’ll tell them what your nickname is”. Cement Head was well named. One sport journalist describing him as “having a head like a working bullock!”

Anyway, on the football field, despite his intimidating appearance, he proved useless, and after a series of off-field incidents was sent south never to be seen on PNG’s shores again.