Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Explained

PNGNRL Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup
Current Season:2024 PNGNRL season
Formerly:SP Cup (1990–2005)
Bemobile Cup (2009–10)
Digicel Cup (2011–2022)
Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup (2023–present)
Founded:2005
Inaugural:1990 (as SP Cup)
Ceo:Stanley Hondina
Teams:12
Country:Papua New Guinea
Championtag:Premiers
Champion:Enga Mioks
Season:2023
Most Champs:Rabaul Gurias
Count:6

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (or the PNGNRL for short, for sponsorship reasons the PNGNRL Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup) is a semi-professional rugby league competition held annually in Papua New Guinea. Changes in sponsorship have meant it was Formerly known as the SP Inter-City Cup or SP Cup (1990–2008) and later the Bemobile Cup (2009–2010). The current competition is sponsored by pacific telecommunications giant Digicel and new co-naming rights sponsor ExxonMobil[1] (one of the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas companies) which joined in 2023 and so it is currently called the Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup.[2]

History

Previous to 2005 the PNG NRL was called the SP Inter-City Cup. The national competition was known as the SP Cup, and has been held since 1990. No competition was held in 2004 due to financial problems and province violence in certain provinces. But the competition returned for 2005 season as the new-look PNGNRL. Much like the new PNGNRL format the old SP Inter-City Cup had teams competing in a format much like the Australian National Rugby League format, with the top four clubs at the end of the rounds entering play-offs, culminating in a Grand Final held in the capital city Port Moresby.

The 2005 season had eight teams in total from all around Papua New Guinea. In 2006 one team got relegated (Monier Broncos) to make way for two new teams, Central Raiders and Pagini Warriors. The inaugural winner of the competition was the Agmark Gurias who beat the Brian Bell Bulldogs in Port Moresby. In the short history of the tournament the competition has shown high levels of rugby league play in Papua New Guinea.

In 2009 local mobile telecommunication Company, Bemobile, took over from SP Brewery as the competitions major sponsor. Currently 9 teams compete in the competition.[3]

On February 9, 2011, telecommucations company Digicel who has taken over the industry in PNG since its operation started in 2007, announced that it will be sponsoring PNG's premier sporting event for the next five years.[4]

Sponsorship Names

Teams

2023 Digicel Cup Teams
width=33%Team width=33%Stadium width=33%City/Area
Central DabarisOil Search National Football StadiumPort Moresby, National Capital District
Johnson Siki Aipus https://leagueunlimited.com/venue/show/aipus-ovalWabag, Enga Province
Goroka LahanisNational Sports Institute https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-7798-0-0-0&sID=207675#:~:text=Situated%20conveniently%20in%20a%20central,stand%20seats%20for%20500%20spectatorsGoroka, Eastern Highlands Province
Gulf IsouOil Search National Football Stadium
Hela WigmenOil Search National Football StadiumTari Hela Province
Kimbe CuttersMuthuvel Stadium https://papua-new-guinea.worldplaces.me/view-place/54441069-muthuvel-stadium-kimbe-west-new-britain-province.htmlKimbe, West New Britain Province
Lae Snax TigersLae League OvalLae, Morobe Province
Joseph Keviame OvalMendi, Southern Highlands Province
Mt. Hagen EaglesRebiamul OvalMt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province
Port Moresby VipersOil Search National Football StadiumPort Moresby, National Capital District
Rabaul GuriasKalabond OvalKokopo, East New Britain Province
Sepik PridePora OvalWewak, East Sepik Province

History of Premiers

YearPremiersRunners UpScoreAttendance
1990Port Moresby VipersMt Hagen Eagles22–149,230
1991Port Moresby VipersMt Hagen Eagles18–188,900
1992 Mt Hagen Eagles36–012,112
1993 Port Moresby Vipers22–108,291
1994Goroka Lahanis36–308,011
1995Lae BombersMendi Muruks28–1810,232
1996Mendi MuruksKundiawa Warriors11–1012,312
1997Mt Hagen EaglesLae Bombers19–1610,271
1998Mt Hagen EaglesMendi Muruks14–69,278
1999Goroka LahanisRabaul Gurias24–010,812
2000Enga MioksRabaul Gurias36–2014,123
2001Rabaul GuriasGoroka Lahanis18–210,912
2002Lae BombersRabaul Gurias14–1212,321
2003Rabaul GuriasLae Bombers17–1612,381
2004Mendi Menjals Popondetta Butterflies22–012,322
2005Rabaul GuriasPort Moresby Bulldogs14–1310,249
2006Mendi MuruksGoroka Lahanis19–1412,021
2007Mendi MuruksRabaul Gurias42–611,000+
2008Mendi MuruksMt Hagen Eagles14–412,000+
2009Rabaul GuriasEnga Mioks24–1415,000+
2010Goroka LahanisMendi Muruks21–1020,000+ [5]
2011Goroka LahanisRabaul Gurias20–1020,000+ [6]
2012Rabaul GuriasMendi Muruks14–1020,000+ [7]
2013Port Moresby VipersGoroka Lahanis36–1420,000+[8]
2014Hela WigmenAgmark Gurias34–8
2015Rabaul GuriasTNA Simbu Lions26–1820,000+[9]
2016Lae Snax TigersRabaul Gurias14–820,000+[10]
2017Lae Snax TigersRabaul Gurias11–1020,000+[11]
2018Goroka LahanisEnga Mioks10–620,000+[12]
2019Lae Snax TigersHela Wigmen15–420,000+[13]
2020Hela WigmenLae Snax Tigers16–14[14]
2021Lae Snax TigersWaghi Tumbe16–10[15]
2022Hela WigmenRabaul Gurias8-6
2023Enga MioksGoroka Lahanis26-6

Performance by team

TeamWinRunners UpWinning yearsRunners Up years
Rabaul Gurias682001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012, 20151999, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2022
Goroka Lahanis541993, 1999, 2010, 2011, 20181994, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2013,
Port Moresby Vipers521990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 20131993, 2005 (as Port Moresby Bulldogs)
Mendi Muruks441996, 2006, 2007, 20081995, 1998, 2010, 2012
Lae Snax Tigers412016, 2017, 2019, 20212020
Hela Wigmen312014, 2020, 20222019
Mt Hagen Eagles241997, 19981900, 1991, 1992, 2008
Lae Bombers221995, 20021997, 2003
Enga Mioks1220002009, 2018
Mendi Menjals102004
Waghi Tumbe012021
Popondetta Butterflies012004
TNA Simbu Lions012015
Simbu Warriors011996

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ExxonMobil becomes co-sponsor of PNGNRL Digicel ExxonMobil Cup . 17 March 2023 .
  2. Web site: Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup Launched . 14 April 2023 .
  3. Web site: Bemobile Cup - PNG National Rugby League: About Bemobile Cup . 2010-10-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110207010635/http://bemobilecup.sportspng.com/p/about-bemobile-cup.html . 2011-02-07 .
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2012-01-30 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003821/http://www.digicelpng.com/en/about/news/digicel-becomes-title-sponsor-of-pngs-premier-rugby-league-tournament.html . dead .
  5. Web site: Post-Courier Online . 2010-10-18 . dead . https://archive.today/20120906173636/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20101018/mohome.htm . 2012-09-06 .
  6. Web site: Sports news . 2012-01-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130622014952/http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20111024/sport.htm . 2013-06-22 .
  7. Web site: Gurias wins 2012 Digicel Cup Title. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/9RxHHkUP0nM . 2021-12-13 . live. EMTV Online. 9 September 2012. 1 October 2018. YouTube.
  8. Web site: PNG's Number One Daily Newspaper! - The National. The National. 1 October 2018.
  9. Web site: Gurias win 2015 Digicel Cup - Loop PNG. 5 September 2015. looppng.com. 1 October 2018.
  10. Web site: Naru thanks Tigers for winning the 2016 Digicel Cup - Loop PNG. 5 September 2016. looppng.com. 1 October 2018.
  11. Web site: Tigers are 2017 Digicel Cup champions! - Loop PNG. 9 September 2017. looppng.com. 1 October 2018.
  12. Web site: Lahanis scoop coveted trophy! - Loop PNG. 2 September 2018. looppng.com. 8 October 2018.
  13. Web site: Lae Tigers ultimate 2019 winners. Patjole. Cedric. 2019-09-08 . Loop PNG. en. 2020-02-22.
  14. Web site: Wigmen avenge defeat – the National .
  15. Web site: Tigers Claim Fourth Premiership . 13 September 2021 .

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