2023 PNGNRL season explained

Year:2023
Competition:Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (Digicel Cup)
Duration:April 16 – September 3, 2023
Teams:12
Count:2nd
Tv:Digicel (Subscription)
Website:http://pngnrl.com/

The 2023 season of Papua New Guinea National Rugby League competition will be the 33rd season of the premier rugby league competition in Papua New Guinea since 1991.[1]

Teams

The competition will still have 12 franchise teams competing in 2023 with the inclusion of successful bid team, Sepik Pride at the expense of Waghi Tumbe[2] who were terminated for breaching the participation agreement in 2022.[3]

Regular season

Round 1

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Port Moresby Vipers30–10Mt. Hagen Eagles16 April 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks26–12 Kimbe Cutters16 April 2023, 13:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Lae Snax Tigers12–10Central Dabaris16 April 2022, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Goroka Lahanis30–30Hela Wigmen16 April 2023, 15:00National Sports Institute, Goroka
Enga Mioks12–10Rabaul Gurias16 April 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, Wabag
Gulf Isou8–14Sepik Pride16 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[4]

Round 2

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Kimbe Cutters14-20 Lae Snax Tigers23 April 2023, 15:00Kimbe
Mendi Muruks34-16Mt. Hagen Eagles23 April 2023, 13:00Lae
Hela Wigmen11-14Enga Mioks23 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Sepik Pride14–14Goroka Lahanis23 April 2023, 15:00Wewak
Rabaul Gurias16-12 Port Moresby Vipers22 April 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval
Gulf Isou14-16Central Dabaris23 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[5]

Round 3

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Lae Snax Tigers32–2Mt. Hagen Eagles30 April 2023, 13:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Goroka Lahanis14-14Gulf Isou30 April 2023, 15:00Goroka
Enga Mioks32-6Sepik Pride30 April 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, Wabag
Central Dabaris16-10 Kimbe Cutters30 April 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Port Moresby Vipers18-14Hela Wigmen30 April 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks18-2Rabaul Gurias1 May 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Source:[6]

Round 4

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias30–12Hela Wigmen6 May 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval
Mt. Hagen Eagles8–28Enga Mioks6 May 2023, 14:00Jonah Amban Oval, Minj
Goroka Lahanis18–26 Lae Snax Tigers7 May 2023, 14:00Goroka
Mendi Muruks16-8 Kimbe Cutters7 May 2023, 15:00Lae
Port Moresby Vipers32-8Gulf Isou7 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Central Dabaris22-18Sepik Pride7 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[7]

Round 5

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Enga Mioks30–18 Kimbe Cutters14 May 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, Wabag
Sepik Pride14-16Gulf Isou14 May 2023, 13:00Wewak
Goroka Lahanis32-10Wamp Nga Mt.Hagen Eagles14 May 2023, 15:30NSI Goroka
Mendi Muruks10-12 Lae Snax Tigers14 May 2023, 15:00Lae
22-20 Port Moresby Vipers14 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
CPG Central Dabaris20-26Rabaul Gurias14 May 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[8]

Round 6

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Sepik Pride14-1620 May 2023, 14:00
Kimbe Cutters12-18 Lae Snax Tigers20 May 2023, 14:00Kimbe
Mendi Muruks17–18Mt. Hagen Eagles21 May 2023, 15:00Lae
Goroka Lahanis16-20Enga Mioks21 May 2023, 14:00NSI, Goroka
Hela Wigmen24–20Central Dabaris21 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Gulf Isou10–28Rabaul Gurias21 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[9]

Round 7

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias30-12Sepik Pride27 May 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval
Enga Mioks28-14Mendi Muruks28 May 2023, 13:00Wabag
Goroka Lahanis22–628 May 2023, 13:00Kimbe
Lae Snax Tigers38–16Mt. Hagen Eagles28 May 2023, 14:00Lae
Hela Wigmen26–10Gulf Isou28 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Central Dabaris42–26Port Moresby Vipers28 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[10]

Round 8

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Sepik Pride14–22Hela Wigmen3 June 2023, 14:00Wewak
Kimbe Cutters38-10Mt. Hagen Eagles3 June 2023, 14:00 Kimbe
Lae Snax Tigers4–6Enga Mioks4 June 2023, 13:00Lae
Mendi Muruks17–124 June 2023, 14:00Lae
Central Dabaris20–10Gulf Isou4 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Port Moresby Vipers10-16Rabaul Gurias4 June 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[11]

Round 9

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Hela Wigmen24–10Rabaul Gurias10 June 2023, 12:00Santos National Football Stadium
Sepik Pride24–12Central Dabaris10 June 2023, 14:00Wewak
Lae Snax Tigers38–10Mt. Hagen Eagles11 June 2023, 13:00Lae
Goroka Lahanis18-14 Kimbe Cutters11 June 2023, 14:00Goroka
Port Moresby Vipers12-18Gulf Isou11 June 2023, 14:30Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks20-26Enga Mioks11 June 2023, 15:00Lae
Source:[12]

Round 10

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias20-12Central Dabaris17 June 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval
Gulf Isou18-16Sepik Pride18 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Goroka Lahanis22-20Wamp Nga Mt.Hagen Eagles18 June 2023, 15:00Goroka
Mendi Muruks14-14 Lae Snax Tigers18 June 2023, 15:00Lae
18-14 Port Moresby Vipers18 June 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Kimbe Cutters8-16Enga Mioks17 June 2023, 14:00Kimbe
Source:[13]

Round 11

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias34–6Gulf Isou24 June 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval, Kokopo
Kimbe Cutters26–6Mt. Hagen Eagles25 June 2023, 14:00Humphreys Oval, Kimbe
Goroka Lahanis16–14Mendi Muruks25 June 2023, 13:00NSI Goroka
Hela Wigmen16–16Central Dabaris25 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Enga Mioks18–12 Lae Snax Tigers25 June 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, Wabag
Port Moresby Vipers14-18Sepik Pride25 June 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[14]

Round 12

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Sepik Pride36–26Rabaul Gurias1 July 2023, 14:00Wewak
Enga Mioks22–10Goroka Lahanis2 July 2023, 14:00Wabag
Mendi Muruks32–4Mt. Hagen Eagles2 July 2023, 14:00Lae
Lae Snax Tigers30-182 July 2023, 11:00Lae
Central Dabaris10-24 Port Moresby Vipers2 July 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium
Gulf Isou8–22Hela Wigmen2 July 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[15]

Round 13

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias18–148 July 2023, 14:00
Enga Mioks34–18Mt. Hagen Eagles9 July 2023, 12:30Wabag
Lae Snax Tigers24–26Goroka Lahanis9 July 2023, 15:00Lae League Ground, Lae
Kimbe Cutters22–19Mendi Muruks9 July 2023, 15:00Kimbe
Hela Wigmen18–6Sepik Pride9 July 2023, 13:00
Central Dabaris8–10Gulf Isou9 July 2023, 15:30Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[16]

Round 14

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Central Dabaris24–0Mt. Hagen Eagles22 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias12–22Mendi Muruks22 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
12–14Gulf Isou23 July 2023, 12:30Lae Rugby League Oval
Hela Wigmen26–20 Kimbe Cutters23 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football Stadium
Lae Snax Tigers32–8Sepik Pride23 July 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Grounds
Port Moresby Vipers22–22Enga Mioks23 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[17]

Round 15

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Rabaul Gurias44–16 Kimbe Cutters29 July 2023, 12:30
Enga Mioks22–6Sepik Pride29 July 2023, 15:00
Hela Wigmen24–18Mt. Hagen Eagles30 July 2023, 12:30Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Lae Snax Tigers28–12Gulf Isou30 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football Stadium
22–20Central Dabaris30 July 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Port Moresby Vipers18–14Goroka Lahanis30 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:

Round 16

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Central Dabaris36–14 Kimbe Cutters5 August 2023, 12:30Santos National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias40–30Mt. Hagen Eagles6 August 2023, 11:00Santos National Football Stadium
Lae Snax Tigers20–10 Port Moresby Vipers6 August 2023, 12:30Lae
Goroka Lahanis26–16Sepik Pride6 August 2023, 13:20Santos National Football Stadium
Enga Mioks18–14Gulf Isou6 August 2023, 15:00Lae
Hela Wigmen16–10Mendi Muruks6 August 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[18]

Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1Enga Mioks1615100348 197 151 31
2 Lae Snax Tigers1612130358204154 25
3Kroton Hela Wigmen1611230325 258 67 24
4161105036226696 22
51681703052386717
6Goroka Lahanis167360302279 2317
7Gas Resource Central Dabaris1671803042703415
8166190 2942801413
9Gulf Isou1651100190314-12411
10Sepik Pride164 1 110236330 -94 9
11 Kimbe Cutters1630130256 353 -976
12Mt. Hagen Eagles1610150196487-2912

Pools Format

All 12 teams have been split into two pools for the remainder of the season due to flight cancellations affecting teams travels from Round 4.[19]

Pool A Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1Enga Mioks1313000286155131 24
2 Lae Snax Tigers13913027817410419
3Goroka Lahanis136340250 231 19 15
41361602511906113
5 Kimbe Cutters1330100206247-416
6Mt. Hagen Eagles1310120148 399-2512

Pool B Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
113904026619868 18
213823025921049 18
3135170224234style="background: #ccffcc;" -1011
4 Port Moresby Vipers135080244224 2010
5Sepik Pride134170206250 style="background: #ccffcc;" -449
6Gulf Isou134180150256 style="background: #ccffcc;" -106 9

Finals series

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=10%Date and Time (Local)width=10%Venue
Elimination Finals
8– 14Goroka Lahanis13 August 2023, 12:30pmNational Football Stadium
28-2613 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium
Major / Minor Semi-finals
6 - 4 20 August 2023, 12:30pmNational Football Stadium
18 - 24Goroka Lahanis20 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium
Preliminary Final
Lae Snax Tigers18-19 Goroka Lahanis27 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium
Grand Final
Enga Mioks26-6 Goroka Lahanis3 September 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Digicel remains naming right sponsor sponsorship. May 26, 2022. Post Courier.
  2. Web site: Digicel Cup to get strict – The National . 2023-08-04 . www.thenational.com.pg.
  3. Web site: Sepik Pride to join 2023 PNG Digicel Cup season . Asia Pacific Rugby League . 8 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209214558/https://asiapacificrl.com/2023/02/08/sepik-pride-to-join-2023-png-digicel-cup-season/ . 9 February 2023.
  4. https://www.tiktok.com/@waghipridemedia/video/7222603090174676225
  5. https://pngnrlc.com/round-2-of-the-2023-digicel-exxonmobil-cup-continues-tomorrow/
  6. https://www.thenational.com.pg/muruks-stop-gurias/
  7. https://www.thenational.com.pg/draw-change/
  8. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  9. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  10. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  11. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  12. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  13. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  14. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  15. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  16. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  17. Web site: Play Rugby League - Competitions .
  18. Web site: Digicel Cup Round 16 Kicks off This Weekend . 17 August 2022 .
  19. Web site: Draw change – The National . 2023-08-04 . www.thenational.com.pg.

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