Everyone realises that the only route to the NRL, a dream of PNG for a long time now, is to strategically nurture and manage pathways for the development of men and women players.

In patches, PNG shows it has a grip on the community rugby league concept.

There are places where kids as young as six or twelve learn the skills that require accuracy, agility, strength and intelligence: passing, tackling, kicking, scrummaging and tactical play where split second decisions must be made in game situations.

And there’s much else to make good players including access to the right food and being able to play in a well organised competition.

School rugby league is another concept happening in patches throughout the country. The usual problems of adequate funding and effective management dampen progress.

But it’s school and community rugby league where love of the sport, the range of skills and football intelligence are developed.

And this is where the game requires the right people with discipline, integrity and rugby league experience who are able to mold aspiring rugby league players.

If you ask just who it is that produces rugby league players in PNG, the correct answers will be households, communities and schools - not the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL).

It is necessary for investment to be made at community and school levels if PNG is to become on par with the other Pacific Islands players, most of whom are Polynesian.

There are, however, promising signs.

The National Capital District School Rugby League (NCDSRL) held its eighth grand finals from 5-7 July at Sir John Guise stadium in Port Moresby.

People packed the stadium for three days as three districts played grand finals in the under 15, under 17 and under 19 boys and under 16 and under 18 girls divisions.

The energy at the stadium was electric and the behaviour of the student players showed considerable sportsmanship, with losing teams noble in defeat and warmly congratulating winners.

The Morata under 16 girls team, who lived in the settlements and attend Morata Primary School, made it through to the grand final after being introduced to rugby league for the first time.

It was the first time the girls had participated in the competition.

The formula behind their success was having mentors who had a lot of experience playing and coaching teams at various levels in the sport.

The good training brought the girls into shape in just six weeks and this included playing a structured attacking game while also retaining effective defence.

The girls were reminded that football intelligence and instinct could also win them games. They were allowed to depart from the structure if they thought they could devise a play that would set up a try or stop an attacker from scoring.

However the Morata girls did not pass the balls out to the centres and wingers, locking play in the forwards and they also threw away the game plan when the pressure was on.

As a result, Morata lost to Iobuna in the grand final, but took a lot of lessons home. They know what went wrong and they are planning to come back stronger next year.

Morata under 16 girls players charge downfield in their losing grand final bid (Inaka Image)

Despite the successful grand final tournament, the competition needs improvement in some critical areas listed here:

First, the referees need more training and must keep up with the speed of the game. They moved slowly and were away from where the balls were played which resulted in many unpopular calls.

Secondly, the white lines were not painted during the competition even though coaches told the players about them. For the kids to implement game plans, the lines must be clearly marked. Players ‘scored’ outside the in-goal area while others ran past the in-goal area without scoring.

Thirdly, many kids did not play in the right age divisions. There were cases of 18 or 19 year old players smashing kids of 15 or 16. Some could not play their best games because of the intimidating presence of older kids.

Fourthly, outsiders were allowed to play and teachers normalising cheating in this way unfortunately gave students the impression that breaking the rules was acceptable.

Fifthly, while teachers can be coordinators, former players should be brought in to mentor the kids and teach them how to kick, tackle, pass and run. Those who have played the game will do better simply because of this real life experience.

The speed and quality of the game here in the National Capital District is only as good as the coaches and trainers in the schools. Kids in schools with no coaches and trainers are a direct contradiction to the rationale for running the NCD Schools Rugby League competition.

Last but not least, the competition needs a professional medical service provider to be engaged with an ambulance present on game day.

An under 16 girl was concussed and lying flat on the field with minimal movement. With no doctor at the stadium and no designated medical service provider, she was ferried to emergency at Port Moresby General hospital by her coach.

Fortunately x-rays cleared her of any neck fracture but it was a scary sight for everyone at the stadium that medical help was not immediately available at the site.

The parents and schools are hoping that the NCDSRL will announce the name of a medical service provider before the sport gets underway in 2025.

At the grand final media conference, PNGRFL pathways guru Tony Archer encouraged students to work hard as those who work the hardest get to play in the NRL.

Of course players will be encouraged to work at their hardest if rugby league training equipment is provided to schools along with coaches are experienced and skilful. Players and schools cannot do this on their own initiative.

While not all players can become professional and make millions, if given the opportunity they can have successful rugby league careers in college and grade competitions.

All that said, the participating schools and parents applauded school coordinators and Schools Rugby League chairman Arnold Gende for not folding under the mounting pressure. and successfully getting the games through to the grand finals.