18 Nov 2010

PNG Rugby Leaguie chairman admits year has been 'disastrous'

12:28 pm on 18 November 2010

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League's interim chairman, John Numapo has labelled the 2010 year as nothing short of disastrous.

Numapo told The National newspaper that the interim committee, of which he is a part, failed to properly manage the affairs of the PNGRFL.

The year began with a dispute between Gary Juffa and Albert Veratau over the election of the board at last year's AGM and two different sets of caretaker administrations have since governed the sport in Papua New Guinea.

More than five million dollars of Australian taxpayer funding was then witheld due to the boardroom problems and a number of development programmes were shelved.

Numapo added that the Kumuls poor performances in the Four Nations and controversies surrounding the selection of the players and the coaching staff for the team did not help.

A new board is scheduled to be elected at the next AGM, which takes place at the end of this month.

Nmapo says the sport can't afford to go through the same problems again next year and it's time for the politics to be put aside.