Under 19 Youth Competition Announced

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and PNG NRL franchise collectively announced the 2025 U19 Youth Rugby League competition today (March 13th) at the Santos National Football Stadium Club Lounge in Port Moresby. 

The U19 Youth competition was initially planned to start next year. However, following PNG’s successful bid to become the 18th NRL team in 2028, the PNGRFL and PNG NRL franchise decided to hit the ground running this year. 

With two years to go before the PNG team joins the top-flight competition, the administrators of the two mother bodies have announced a significant step forward, with the introduction of a youth competition.

After last year’s successful inaugural Youth competition hosted in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, this year’s U19 Youth competition will bring the best school players from across the six academies in the country to showcase their talents. 

The new competition stems from the work laid by Head of Elite Player Development, Joe Grima, and his coaching staff at the NRL Bid Academy level, creating an opportunity for the U19 boys to represent their pathway clubs in the Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup. 

PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina, was pleased with the introduction of the U19 Youth competition and emphasized the importance of this new initiative.

“Building on the success of last year’s competition in Goroka, we believe that it is vital for us to begin preparing our best youth players for the NRL by creating an intense weekly competition, where they will be required to reach the levels of professionalism that they will need in the future,” Hondina stated.

“The competition will provide tough matches each week where the best will play against the best and that will be a great learning curve for our young players, and will also allow our coaches to support them in a high-pressure environment.

“We have an incredible depth of young talent in this country, and this competition will provide a great way for our players to develop the right professional habits that will sustain them throughout their careers.”

PNG NRL franchise CEO, Andrew Hill, acknowledged and highlighted the significance of the inaugural school boys competition.

“Part of creating a world-leading pathways system is to challenge the players at all levels and to ingrain good habits from an early age,” Hill expressed.

“We have made some important strides already with the great work being done by Joe Grima and his staff at the academy level and this new competition will allow those players to experience tough, weekly football against the best players at their age level.

“Producing consistent performances on the field is one thing, but just as important is how you look after yourself off the field and develop the professional habits around diet, recovery, and well-being that will allow you to continue to perform at your best.

“We believe that this new competition will be a great early taste of what is to come once we join the NRL in 2028, and will be incredibly important to the development of our best young players.

“The competition also highlights the strong partnership that exists between the Australian and Papua New Guinea Governments as we continue to prepare for entry into the National Rugby League in 2028.”

PNG NRL franchise Chairman, Wapu Sonk, echoed similar sentiments shared by Hondina and Hill, offering his full support to the newly established youth competition.

“Kumul Petroleum is proud to sponsor this exciting new competition and we believe that it will be of tremendous benefit to the young players taking part,” Sonk said. 

“We have always been great supporters of the game at all levels, and to be able to support a brand new 7-week competition that will provide a superb showcase for our best young talent is extremely gratifying.

“This is another important step for the game at junior level and will provide a great platform for years to come.”

The confirmed participating teams for the U19 Youth competition are as follows:

• Central Dabaris

• East New Britain Gurias

• Goroka Lahanis

• Lae Tigers

• Mt. Hagen Eagles

• Port Moresby Vipers

The 2025 inaugural U19 Youth competition will kick off in May and will run for seven weeks, with the girls competition likely to be introduced in 2026.