Academy notes progress

THE PNG NRL Bid Academy has seen a huge progress from where they were 12 months ago with more junior players participating in its programmes in six centres in the country.
PNG NRL Bid Academy player development manager Joe Grima said the juniors had been in training for 10 weeks and they had already covered the basics of rugby league. The Australian said they were now preparing their players for actual games starting with an Under-19 tournament in Goroka next month.
“Twelve months ago we only had one pilot programme in Port Moresby but now we have six academies across the four regions of the country,” he said.
“We are in week 10 of the 18-week programme and the older divisions (U19s) are making transition and there is a tournament coming up in Goroka where they will compete.
“So the tournament in Goroka for the U18 women and U19 men from the six academies will see them put everything they have been learning over the last 18 weeks into practice.
“We’ve been focusing on the fundamentals of rugby league, the correct tackle technique, the grip, the carrying and passing of the ball and they are also learning the technical and tactical aspects of the game and discipline areas,” the former Parramatta Eels junior development manager said.
“So it’s the whole governing programme not only focused on the field but off the field as well.”
PNG NRL Bid chief executive officer Andrew Hill said there would be 12 teams who would be competing in the Eastern Highlands capital. The teams will come from Kokopo, Lae, Port Moresby, Central, Goroka and Mt Hagen.
Hill said the players attending the tournament would also participate in education and welfare courses.
“So what you are witnessing here (PNG NRL Bid Academy programme) is exactly what the kids in Australia are doing in their NRL endeavours.
“We are grateful for the PNG and Australian governments and also Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited for funding this programme.”