Australian Rugby League Coaches wrap up Courses for PNG Teachers

The Australian Government-supported PNG NRL Academy program has successfully trained more than 330 teachers across Papua New Guinea as rugby league coaches through a series of courses that wrapped up last month.

Teachers from 161 schools across NCD, Central, Gulf, Goroka, Lae, Mount Hagen, Enga, East New Britain, and East Sepik attended two-day courses delivered by experienced rugby league pathways coaches from Australia.

School competitions play a vital role in the rugby league pathway for young male and female players to be selected into the PNG NRL Academy and other programs. Equipping teachers with more confidence and coaching skills is crucial to developing better players.

The courses combined theory with outdoor practical sessions, focusing on delivering the basics of rugby league coaching in a consistent, safe, and enjoyable way for young players. Participating schools each received a set of jerseys and balls.

“We’ve been lucky to have the chance to work with the coaches (teachers), and we’ve been able to give them the confidence, knowledge, and skills to continue that development,” said Craig Culnane, one of the three visiting coaches from Australia who delivered the training alongside PNG NRL Academy Coaching and Pathways Manager Joe Grima.

“We have shown them that building those foundation skills is really important, and that they can continue to develop their enthusiasm, passion, and love of rugby league.” 

The courses sought to attract more female teachers to become rugby league coaches, to support growing school girls' rugby league competitions.

“I learnt so many new things,” said Stella Brian, a teacher from Laloki Secondary School who attended the NCD course.

“For example, I learnt about markers being square, so when I’m coaching my girls back in the school, we should be concentrating on that, because most of the time our opponents used to get penalties for that.”

Australia is proud to support the PNG NRL Academy program through this exchange of coaching knowledge and helping schools across Papua New Guinea deliver rugby league skills. These teachers will play a vital role in shaping future players, some of whom may go on to play for PNG in the NRL.

The teachers will continue coaching rugby league in school boys’ and school girls’ competitions, which serve as the talent pool for the PNG NRL Academy. From these competitions, players are selected for the Academy’s five-month after-school training program.

In 2025, 61 per cent of the Junior Orchids team and 39 per cent of the Junior Kumuls team came through these school competitions and the academy pathway.