NICK CAMPTON | Daily Telegraph

David Mead will captain PNG in his third rugby league world cup

THE strides Papua New Guinean rugby league has taken in the last few years alone are quite staggering.

The PNG Hunters’ victory in the Queensland Cup grand final can be counted as one of the finest days in rugby league’s history for that country, and perhaps as one of their greatest wins in any sport.

Forget what you saw at ANZ Stadium on NRL grand final day, when the overmatched Hunters were flattened out mentally. Their achievement the week before, the performance of rugby league in Papua New Guinea is finally matching the passion.

Rugby league law dictates I must divulge the well known fact that rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea, but the stories of the locals’ hunger for the game are well known. The love for the code in that part of the world is intense beyond almost anything you’ll ever see in Australia.

"For at least one day, the Hunters will be Queenslanders"

RIKKI-LEE ARNOLD | The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE - WHEN COACH Michael Marum talks about what Sunday’s Intrust Super Championship means to the PNG Hunters, it’s not just another chance to win for their country, but also for their state.

Marum’s team made history last weekend, when they claimed their first Intrust Super Cup premiership.

Today they represent the entire Queensland competition as they come up against the winners of the NSW competition, the Penrith Panthers.

For Marum, this means that for at least one day, the Hunters will be Queenslanders.

“We will put up a fight for you. We’re gonna do it, and we will never back down”

AHMAD KHAWAJABY | Real Sport
| Extract (read the full article here)

TODAY: PNG Hunters v Penrith Panthers: 2.40pm (Queensland time) at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Watch the game live on Channel 9

PORT MORESBY - “We will put up a fight for you. We’re gonna do it, and we will never back down.”

Those words from their team song are enough to tell you what the PNG Hunters are all about. A loyal following behind them, they are the only non-Australian based side in the whole of the National Rugby League, and they are out with a point to prove.

Four years after their formation, they were crowned as the first non-Queensland side to win the Queensland Cup (reserve grade) after defeating the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a dramatic final.

Today they have their biggest clash so far, against NSW Cup champions the Penrith Panthers in the In-Trust State Championship blockbuster.

SAM KOIM

BRISBANE - The PNG Hunters made all of us proud at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

The opponents, the Sunshine Coast Falcons, scooped up two easy tries at the start of the game which got many PNG fans wondering whether we'd ever make it.

Our boys came back as ferocious raging bulls, nullifying our opponent’s every claim of territory, and proceeded to take complete control of the game.

Our emotions all hung out when our boys claimed the last winning try to seal victory.

MALUM NALU

They came from north of the border
To the colosseum at Suncorp
Modern-day gladiators
Hunters from Papua New Guinea

They carried the hopes and dreams of a nation
Upon their shoulders
So much gloom, doom and despair
A little ray of sunshine was needed

All was lost, it seemed
When in from the cold came Willie Minoga
Like a runaway freight train from Enga
Grounding the ball at the last minute

JAMES BUCKLEY | Fairfax Media | Edited extract

SYDNEY - Speak to anyone that's played rugby league in Papua New Guinea, and they will all furnish you with unbelievable stories of the insatiable passion the locals possess for their national sport.

PNG is a developing and diverse country with more than 800 languages, high crime and significant unemployment, but rugby league is the constant that unites its eight million people.

But when their Australian heroes come to these shores for the annual Prime Minister's XIII fixture against Papua New Guinea, played yesterday, quite often that lust for the game bubbles over into tragedy.

Cronulla back rower Wade Graham played his first PM's XIII match in 2012 and it's an experience he'll never forget.

"The grandstand collapsed the year I was there and a few people died, it was pretty full on," Graham said.

Justin Olam in full flight for the Sunshine Coast Falcons

TOM THREADINGHAM | Sunshine Coast Daily

MAROOCHYDORE -: Although Sunshine Coast Falcon Justin Olam says he is proud of his fellow PNG Hunters countrymen for achieving a spot in the final, come kick-off there will be no love lost.

Olam played for the Hunters last year and before that he was part of Lae Snax Tigers.

The centre expects a tough clash in Sunday afternoon’s Intrust Super Cup grand final in Brisbane, but said there was no rivalry or ill-will between the Hunters and himself.

"It's a bit different and I've never played against my (old) team like that in such big games but I'm a Falcon so I'll give my best for the Falcons,” he said.

"It's just a game, it’s not about rivalry or whatever.

"I think they are going to play hard to win the game and we will play hard to win the game and that's it.”

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL | Extracts

DIPAK Patel says his abrupt departure as Papua New Guinea cricket coach has left a "sour taste" in his mouth.

The former New Zealand international had been in charge for three years, leading the Barramundis to their first four-day and one-day international victories and 16th place in the World T20 rankings.

Patel's contract was due to expire at the end of next month but he said a new deal had been agreed before Cricket PNG informed him 10 days ago that his tenure was over.

"I didn't really have a lot of time - I suppose it didn't really sink in, didn't give me that opportunity to be honest with you - the fact that I was just given a week’s notice to terminate my contract," Patel said.

PHILIP KAI MORRE

WHEN the first Olympic Games were held in Athens, the motto adopted was ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’, which means faster, higher and stronger.

The Olympic creed was not to win but to take part, not to have conquered but to have fought well.

All participating athletes swear the Olympic oath in which they promise to respect and follow the rules of good sportsmanship.

The Olympic flame symbolises the continuity between the ancient and modern games, for the torch is lit by the sun’s rays in Olympia, Greece, and carried by relay runners to the host site. It is an ancient tradition that is kept alive in all countries including Papua New Guinea.

PHIL FITZPATRICK

I HAVE never really understood sport, especially the organised kind like football and cricket. It all seems a bit silly and frivolous.

And yet millions, maybe billions, of people swear by it and can get quite emotional, even violent, about a game.

Papua New Guinea’s obsession with rugby is a good example. There are apparently several forms of rugby and I’m not sure which one prevails there or what the differences are. Anyway, people in PNG have died arguing about whichever one it is.

STEVE MASCORD | Fairfax Media | Edited extracts

MAL Meninga has broken his silence on allegations he callously walked out on Papua New Guinea mid-contract to take the Australian coaching job, saying, "I just didn't get paid".

The fact Meninga beat Wayne Bennett to the Australian post wasn't the only controversial aspect of the appointment.

At the time he was offered the job, the former Australia captain already had a Test coaching position – in a country where he is considered a demigod.

JIMMY AWAGL

An entry in the 2016 Crocodile Prize

PNG fanatics are mounting for Origin
Their agenda is focussed on Origin
Their emotions, desires, confidence
Resources, time and effort, all

Bragging about Blues or Maroons
To the climax of the day’s celebration
Face painting Blues or Maroons
Flag raising Blues or Maroons

KORO VAKA'UTA | Radio New Zealand International

ACCUSATIONS of racism have been made amid complaints about commentators not pronouncing Pasifika names correctly at the recent Pacific Island Rugby League Internationals in Sydney.

The apparently poor and insensitive commentary prompted New Zealand's Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA), an association of Pasifika media owners and operators, to lodge a complaint with the broadcaster, Australia's Fox Sports.

"They were just butchering the names and even laughing at some of it as they were saying it," said Will 'Ilolahia, PIMA's chair.

PETER KRANZ

IN A thrilling rugby league test match the Papua New Guinea Kumuls beat Fiji 24-22 at Parramatta stadium in Sydney last night.

The crowd nearly blew the stands down with their enthusiasm and half the PNG expats in NSW must have been present (including Rose Kranz from whom I expect a full match report later in the day).

The win was the Kumuls' first on foreign soil since beating France 23-20 win in Paris during the 2000 World Cup.

Papua New Guinea, whose side was dominated by players from the PNG Hunters team in the Queensland Cup, got off to a good start when halfback Watson Boas scored in the fifth minute and his brother Ase, Kumuls’ five-eighth, converted.

GREY MORRIS | Northern Territory News

THE man who pioneered the Arafura Games, Peter Ritchie, has died in Darwin of a heart attack, aged 62.

He brought the Arafura Games to Darwin in 1992 and also made a big impression on the Northern Territory’s indigenous communities in his 51 years in the north country.

He worked at Borroloola and Katherine in the mid-1970s and was in the Gulf of Carpentaria town when the first land claims were made in 1976.

Mr Ritchie was appointed the first general manager of the Arafura Sports Festival (later known as the Arafura Games) in 1991 and was instrumental in its early success.

He not only engaged and gained the participation of countries such as the Philippines, Thailand and Papua New Guinea but also added places like Cambodia to the athletes roster after some careful negotiating.

MATT PRITCHARD | The Roar

ON the same weekend that Eden Park hosts the NRL Nines tournament, Penrith Panthers will send a team to Port Moresby to open Papua New Guinea’s magnificent new stadium.

The National Football Stadium will host Intrust Super Cup team Papua New Guinea Hunters on a permanent basis this year after they played out of Kokopo while waiting for the venue to be completed.

It’s likely that 15,000 diehard Papua New Guinean rugby league fans will pack the stadium for the friendly game to be played next Saturday.

USA TODAY

World football controlling body FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against the Papua New Guinea soccer federation whose women's team failed to travel to New Zealand for an Olympic qualifying playoff scheduled for yesterday.

The incident is embarrassing for FIFA vice president David Chung, who leads the Papua New Guinea soccer federation and the Oceania confederation.

Papua New Guinea lost 7-1 in the first leg at home on Saturday.

KEITH JACKSON

PAPUA New Guinea is putting its surf management plan into operation. The good news is that it works, reports the Surfer Today website.

PNG has developed a rulebook to minimise the impact of surf tourism on the fragile ecosystem, on local communities and on the quality of the surfing experience.

"PNG is a land of contrasts, transparent blue waters, ancient traditions, and multiple isolated islands," reports Surfer Today, adding that it's important to keep it alive, healthy, and natural. Couldn't agree more

ED BRUMBY

PLAYING basketball had been the central feature of my high school days.

While neither tall nor particularly fleet of foot, I possessed good hand-eye coordination and peripheral vision.

Countless hours of practice gave me half-decent jump and long shots and constant membership of high school, city and regional representative teams as a playmaker-guard.

By 1966 I was in Papua New Guinea and, with the aid of some cases of SP as gris, a few fellow basketball enthusiasts and I persuaded the Public Works Department to lay some tarmac.

Then Elcom, through their largely Manus Island apprentices, installed the hoops on their pylons and provided suitable lighting in the Wewak local officer compound.

PACIFIC BEAT | Radio Australia

PAPUA New Guinea rugby league team, the Hunters, has forged a partnership with leading NRL team, the Brisbane Broncos, as they continue their build-up to the 2016 season.

As part of the deal, Hunters' coach Michael Marum will spend a week in January being mentored by NRL premiership coach Wayne Bennett.

Former PNG Kumuls coach, Bob Bennett, told Radio Australia that his brother was happy to host the PNG Hunters coach.

"It will just be Wayne's normal training week and Michael will hang around with him and see how it's done and the professionalism that Michael's got in place [in PNG]," Bennett said.

"He's going to come down to the Broncos and see what they do, the facilities, giving him some ideas, and just see where they go from there.

TYSON OTTO | news.com.au | Extract

RUGBY league legend Mal Meninga has been swept up into a bizarre legal stoush that’s broken out between feuding officials in Papua New Guinean rugby league.

Meninga amicably parted company with the PNG Rugby League last week to take up a new role as Australian coach, and news.com.au does not suggest he has acted improperly.

However, the 55-year-old looks set to be named first defendant in a legal stoush, with the CEO of a Papua New Guinea league taking issue with the PNGRL’s management of the game in that country.

RAYMOND SIGIMET

On 5 November, the famous English footballer, David Beckham, made Mount Hagen the first stop of his UNICEF Goodwill Match for Children - 7 Games in 7 Continents - tour. It was an honour for this prominent athlete, Kange David, to choose Papua New Guinea as the starting point in his goodwill mission covering Antarctica, Argentina, Djibouti, Nepal, the United States and finally Manchester, England.

A superstar in our midst
On a journey with a twist

The world did not expect
In the land of the unexpected

To see the legendary David Beckham
Play soccer with some Niugini chums

TOM DECENT | Sydney Morning Herald

JOHNATHAN Thurston and Greg Inglis are helping educate schoolchildren in Papua New Guinea, even though they might not know it.

The popularity of rugby league is being used as a vehicle to teach PNG schoolchildren the importance of education and respect.

PNG is the only country in the world where rugby league is its national sport. The game plays such a big part in the lives of PNG children, who are not afforded the same benefits as kids the same age in Australia.

JOHN KAMASUA

THE game was a week ago – and I’m still hurting.

In a must-win match in the Intrust Super Cup – the Queensland-based rugby league competition in which they’d performed so well – the PNG Hunters failed to play their trademark winning brand of football.

Commenting on the loss, coach Michael Marum said the Hunters will learn from this experience and be better next year.

But on the day there was ample time for the Hunters to learn from the first half and resurrect their game in the second. They did not, and went down 12-28.

A grand final berth between the Hunters and the Townsville Blackhawks would have been a fitting 40th Independence gift for Papua New Guinea.

However in both semi-final games the Hunters led themselves to the slaughter.

QUEENSLAND RUGBY LEAGUE

THE PNG Hunters and Ipswich Jets face off this afternoon for the right to face the Blackhawks in this year’s Intrust Super Cup rugby league grand final.

Townsville continued their impressive debut season when they secured a place in the grand final following a strong 26-12 win over the Hunters last weekend.

Today sees a battle of the entertainers with the trademark contact football style of play from the Jets going head-to-head with the equally exciting Hunters.

While some people question the ability of the Jets to win finals football with their high-risk, high-reward style – they have made it this far.

FIDELIS SUKINA

THE recent Pacific Games was a great success with Papua New Guinea topping the medal tally from defending champions New Caledonia and Tahiti in third place.

The success has been credited to the athletes and the Port Moresby high performance training centre and its coaches.

The government’s Go for Gold program produced results after its K4 million was spent training athletes overseas and at the high performance centre.

Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko praised the high performance centre and said the government will continue the program.

MIRWAIS ADEEL | Khaama Press

THE Papua New Guinea Barramundis national cricket team has been denied a place in the ICC Twenty20 world cup by Afghanistan.

Afghanistan defeated PNG in a qualifying play-off after PNG had seemed certain to qualify in earlier rounds, including a notable win over tournament favourites Ireland. 

The Papua New Guinea batsmen set a target of 128 runs from 20 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat first.

The Afghan batsmen chased lost just four wickets and chased down the runs with 10 balls remaining. Nawroz Mangal was highest scorer for Afghanistan with 65 runs from 56 balls.

The play-off against Papua New Guinea was the last chance for both teams to qualify for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 World Cup 2016.

GEORGE KUIAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has announced that athletes who did not win any medals during the 2015 Pacific Games will each receive K2,500 as an incentive for their efforts.

Well, I congratulate Mr O’Neill for the initiative and the plan to develop sports in Papua New Guinea. Through sport the government will be able to combat increasing crime.

But, before the honourable prime minister does this, could his government locate sporting facilities in every district of PNG down to village level so we can develop the best and most talented sport men and women to national and even international level?

LIAM MORGAN | Inside the Games

PACIFIC Games chief executive Peter Stewart has sought to clarify the reasons behind the closing ceremony ticketing row.

The debacle, which left hundreds of spectators outside the Sir John Guise Stadium, was caused by a fans without tickets trying to gain access, as well as more than the anticipated number of VIPs turning up for the event.

Large groups of fans were not allowed in despite having purchased tickets.

The debacle marred a spectacular end to the 14-day event, described by many as setting the standard for future Pacific Games.

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

PAPUA New Guinea have kept alive its hopes of qualifying for next year's World Twenty20 tournament despite an 18 run defeat to the United States on Sunday.

Having restricted the Americans to 6-147 from 20 overs, the Barramundis’ run chase started disastrously with openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka dismissed in the first eight balls.

Sese Bau grafted 26 from 31 deliveries and was supported by Kila Pala and Mahura Dai but the run-rate proved too much with PNG only managing ten boundaries as it finished its innings at 9-129.

LIAM MORGAN | Inside the Games

PAPUA New Guinea finished top of the Pacific Games medals table for only the second time in the their history as their athletes produced another excellent performance here on the final day of competition at Port Moresby 2015.

As well as the six titles they secured in boxing, the hosts swept the golf tournament, sealing all four available golds, and added another two in beach volleyball and the men’s half-marathon.

The hosts claimed an overall total of 87 gold medals, comfortably ahead of New Caledonia and Tahiti on 55 and 38 respectively. Full medal table here.

PETER DELLA PENNA | ESPN

PNG secured its place in this week’s playoffs for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier with a commanding performance in which it bowled out Nepal for 93 before reaching the target with eight wickets in hand.

PNG set the tone in the third over with the first of three run-outs claiming the wicket of Sagar Pun. Charles Amini's relay to wicketkeeper Jack Vare beat Pun’s despairing dive.

Nepal continued to play aggressively as Pradeep Airee took on PNG's seamers. Airee was fortunate to survive a chance on 17 when Lega Siaka spilled a sitter in from the rope in what was PNG's only blemish in the field.

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

TWO Australian volunteers in Papua New Guinea worked behind the scenes to help local media cover the recent Pacific Games.

With nearly 50 years of broadcast and journalism experience between them, Joanna Lester and Barry Minster (right) shared their skills with the games media contingent through the Australian Volunteers for International Development program.

Joanna was based with the Pacific Games press operations team, helping run a news service which shared Games’ photos and information with local, national and international media.

“We have been pairing up more experienced reporters with journalism students from the University of PNG to cover events,” Joanna says.

“It’s a good chance for journalism students and journalists in general to learn how big events operate, gain skills in interviewing athletes and improve their writing.”

PETER DELLA PENNA | ESPN

ICC World Twenty20 qualifier, Belfast: Ireland 123-9 (20 overs): Porterfield 57 not out, Gavera 3-17; Papua New Guinea 124-8 (18.5 overs): Vala 32, Kane 3-19. PNG won by two wickets. Full scorecard here

PAPUA New Guinea cricket's rise to ODI status has been one of the feel-good successes in world cricket over the last four years.

Their journey has included famous wins over Hong Kong in their maiden ODI and Netherlands in their maiden first-class Intercontinental Cup match.

NEWS LIMITED

STATE of Origin contests have long been famed as arenas epitomising physical aggression and tribal combativeness. However, that aggression is spilling over the sidelines with horrifying consequences.

There have been calls to ban live broadcasts of Origin games in Papua New Guinea because of violent outbursts that are erupting after matches, resulting in deaths.

Speaking to the ABC, an Enga police spokesman said the interstate matches drove people into a frenzy, and that the only way to eradicate this behaviour was to ban all live coverage.

“The way people watch the Origin matches are going crazy nowadays. We’ve got so many deaths…there’s a lot of killing in places because of State of Origin matches,” said the spokesman.

LIAM MORGAN | Inside the Games

EVERYWHERE you went in the build-up to the glittering Pacific Games Opening Ceremony in Port Moresby, the mention of the visit of Prince Andrew was never far away.

On the streets of the Papua New Guinean capital, you simply couldn’t escape the fact that the Duke of York was coming to town to open the Games, just as he did back in 1991.

In fact, people were even walking up to me asking if I either knew him or if I had travelled with him due to my clearly-British appearance. I wish.

INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL

PAPUA New Guinea has created history by winning its maiden first-class match – a memorable five-wicket victory over Netherlands – in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

PNG, resuming on a tenuous 66 for 2, rode on an Assad Vala century and a half-century from Mahuru Dai to chase down the 305-run target Netherlands had set.

The day began with PNG needing 239 runs, and though it lost Vani Morea and Charles Amini early, Vala and Dai defied the Netherlands bowlers to take the visitor closer to the target.

HULL DAILY MAIL (UK)

IT'S a connection, born exactly 20 years ago, that has become one of rugby's league's most exciting tales. Yet the story of Stanley Gene's signing at Hull KR is one which, to this day, has many chapters still to tell.

Two decades on since the Papua New Guinea native flew to the northern hemisphere to join the Robins – after becoming a leading light in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup – Gene, now head coach at Newcastle Thunder, still holds the city in high regard.

Two spells in east Hull, scoring 94 tries in 111 outings, captured the hearts of red and white supporters and gained Gene legendary status at the club, including a commemorative shirt on his behalf released earlier this year.

An influx of PNG stars now reside in the English game, including former KR prop Makali Aizue at Dewsbury Rams and Paul Aiton at Leeds.

But Gene remains keen to repay the favour to the Robins and find the stars of tomorrow from the Kumuls.

PETER KRANZ

DESPITE the support of Rose and Aunty Mary, Papua New Guinea lost to Fiji at Robina on Saturday.

Rose weathered torrential rain, train stoppages, unruly schoolkids and racist bikies but was unable to witness a Kumuls victory in the regional rugby league clash.

Fiji backline champion Marika Koroibete was too strong for them.

Is there is a more thrilling sight in the game right now than Koroibete in full flight?

BEN JACKSON | Bougainville 24

BOUGAINVILLE and Papua New Guinea were dealt a major blow with the sudden passing of Joseph (Joe) Maineke this week.

Joe was a very positive influence as a leader in Bougainville, particularly in the southern region where he worked within the Buin district office with a special focus on youth and sport.

He was also a leader in the Pacific football community and was highly regarded in his roles of president of the Bougainville Football Association and member of the PNG Football Association (PNGFA).

Joe was integral in the initiative to bring a football academy to Manetai in Bougainville as a high impact project for the future development of football amongst children in the region.

BISHOP ARNOLD OROWAE | Catholic Bishops Conference

WITH the Pacific Games coming soon to Papua New Guinea, sport will be a topic of interest for many people. At this time we wish to offer a reflection on the value of sport and ways that we can all benefit.

The Catholic Church recognises sport to be one of the great institutions of our society that helps individuals realise their human potential and builds up the bonds of the community, fostering communal initiative and responsibility.

Sport contributes to physical and mental health and wellbeing.  It teaches people, particularly young people skills and resilience. When youth become involved in sport, they devote their energies to teaming together in a healthy environment, forgetting about antisocial activities such as violence and crime.

BENNY GETENG

An entry in the Crocodile Prize
PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum
Award for Essays & Journalism

AS we pass through the streets of the Motuan fishing villages of Hanuabada and Elavala – surrounded by the urban spread of Port Moresby - there are chants of celebration.

Eager youngsters are at play in the hot blazing sun determined to showcase their amazing natural talent for cricket.

Cricket has huge support in these villages and has over the years produced men and women international cricketers like Rarua Dikana, Mahuru Dai, Lega Siaka and Tanya Ruma.

JOHN KAUPA KAMASUA

An entry in the Crocodile Prize
PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum
Award for Essays and Journalism

WHEN it came to government spending in 2014, although there was the usual substantial investment by the Papua New Guinea government in education, rural development and other sectors, sport was definitely the winner.

Two of the highest achieving sports in 2014 were Australian Rules football and cricket. Many players in both codes also performed well domestically and abroad. Rugby league, and especially the PNG Hunters, were not far behind.

ESPN

Papua New Guinea 264 for 7 (Siaka 109, Morea 65*) defeated Hong Kong 261 (Hayat 56, Rath 55, Vanua 4-60, Gavera 3-49) by three wickets

VANI Morea slammed the second ball of the final over of the chase to the midwicket boundary to confirm Papua New Guinea's second victory over Hong King this weekend.

It made PNG the first team to win their first two ODIs and sparked emotional scenes - their captain Chris Amini choked back tears as he spoke after the win, while the team joyously belted out a victory song.

The chase of 262 had been guided by No 3 Lega Siaka (pictured), who scored his country's first ODI century. In the 42nd over, however, he thumped the ball towards long-on, and though Morea was always keen for the second, Siaka seemed less enthusiastic and was run out at the keeper's end.

PETER DELLA PENNA | ESPN Cricket

CHRIS Amini didn't need to say anything.

As the Papua New Guinea captain struggled to fight back tears (pictured) in an on-camera interview following Papua New Guinea's two-match maiden ODI series sweep over Hong Kong, his emotions conveyed what a historic moment this was in the island nation's rich but relatively little-known cricket history.

PNG didn't arrive on this stage overnight. As Tim Wigmore and Gideon Haigh have detailed, painstaking efforts have been made on and off the field over the last several years to get PNG to Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville.

Former Australia international Andy Bichel played a central role in that. Back in 2011, he told ESPNcricinfo about the amount of pride he had in helping to change the culture of cricket in Papua New Guinea as director of cricket.

CRICKET WORLD

Papua New Guinea 203-6 (Amini 60 no) d Hong Kong 202 (Atkinson 60) by four wickets in Townville

PAPUA New Guinea has made its first One-Day International appearance one to remember by beating Hong Kong by four wickets in the first of two matches in Townsville, Queensland.

The two sides were awarded ODI status following the World Cup Qualifier earlier this year and this was PNG's first match against another of the top 16 sides in the world since.

They chased down a target of 203 in 40 overs to ensure a winning start in ODI cricket while, for Hong Kong, this was their seventh ODI defeat since their first match in 2004.

Batting first, Hong Kong was bowled out for 202 in 48.3 overs with the wickets being shared among the PNG bowlers.

MINISTRY FOR TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE

TOURISM Minister Boka Kondra has called on the University of Papua New Guinea, the Tourism Promotion Authority, PNG National Events Council and Pacific Games 2015 Limited to research the cascade effects of the 2015 Pacific Games on the PNG tourism sector.

Mr Kondra was keynote speaker at the Eighth Tourism Conference organised by UPNG’s School of Business Administration.

“Papua New Guinea stands apart in history as the three-times host of the Pacific Games - in 1969, 1991 and soon in 2015”, he said.

“Three thousand athletes, 500 team officials, and 1,000 technical officials and dignitaries from 21 neighbouring countries will converge upon Port Moresby for the Games.

AUSTRALIAN NRL

THE Australian NRL has launched a Pacific Strategy to strengthen rugby league and build stronger business and community ties in the Pacific Islands.

NRL chief executive, Dave Smith, said the Pacific Islands – Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea – will play a crucial part in the game’s future.

He said there was great potential to develop closer ties with government and business connections in the Pacific and build closer community relations through rugby league.

BUSINESS ADVANTAGE PNG

THE countdown is on, with only 100 days to go until launch of the  Sixth BSP PNG Games.

Taking place on Lae’s home soil from 16– 29 November, the Games will see over 9,000 participants from more than 22 provinces gather for two weeks of competitive sports.

Sports include Athletics, Soccer, Netball, Basketball, Power & Weight Lifting, Boxing, Volleyball, AFL, Rugby Union 7’s,Rugby League 9’s, Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Hockey, Canoeing, Squash, , Touch Footy, Taekwondo, Karate, Cricket, Darts, Softball and Body Building.

The Host Organising Committee is committed to taking PNG’s largest sporting event to a new level in 2014, with improved venues, infrastructure and facilities already underway.

BARBARA MILLER | ABC

ALEX Mitchell was one of a group of volunteers at the London Olympics so moved by the standard of the kit of some para-athletes that they decided to set up a charity, Kit Us Out, to help those athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"Kit should not be a barrier for people to do their very best within competition," Mr Mitchell said.

"We want to provide these para-athletes with the very best opportunity to hit personal bests, to win medals and to inspire the next generation of young para-athletes."

Team PNG are among the beneficiaries, receiving shoes, socks and three wheelchairs.