Papua New Guinea Legends v Australian Legends

[DIEHARD]

PNG Legends vs Aust Legends on Nov 18

AN Australian Legends side will play a Papua New Guinea Legends in the Ela Motors Legends of League challenge on Nov 18.

This was confirmed at the 2012 Ela Motors Legends of League Challenge launching yesterday.

Ela Motors and the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Bid yesterday launched the event at the Ela Motors showroom in the presence of Sports Vice-Minister Labi Amaiu, Bid Committee member Graham Osbourne, Legends of League organiser Troy Byers, and former Australian rugby league star Scott Hill.

“The value of this event to the community is huge for us.

“It is the satisfaction of being able to assist this kind of events, give the local community the opportunity to see players, stars that they only see on TV that is value for us,” Ela Motors national sales and marketing manager Rob McKeon said at the launch.

“We are very proud to be able to present this international event to the people of PNG.”

“The event confirmed itself as an annual event after a successful debut last year, and is set to be even bigger and better,” Bid chief executive officer Brad Tassell said.

After the success of last year’s ‘Origin Legends’ event, the bid has taken the concept even further with the Aussie Legends taking on the PNG legends.

“It will be a wonderful three days and will celebrate and recognize not only the former Australian greats, but also the former PNG greats of the game,” Tassell said in the release.

Tassell also confirmed that the match would be televised LIVE across the nation by EMTV, and appealed to the PNG business corporate sector to support the event through sponsorship packages.

PNG Legends Marcus Bai, Adrian Lam, Arnold Krewanty, Stanley Gene, North Bougainville MP Louta Atoi, Raymond Karl, Ben Bire, Stanley Haru, Kera Ngaffin, Joe Gispe and Bal Numapo are some of the former Kumuls set to take the field in November, while Australia have confirmed Hill, Robbie O’Davis, David PeachyNathan Blacklock, Wayne Bartrim, Julian O’Neill.

Australian legends that have noted interest but have yet to confirm are Brad Fitler, Preston Campbell and Brett Kimmorley.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/38458

[DIEHARD]

Civoniceva joins Legends

Recently retired Brisbane Broncos and Australian Kangaroos powerhouse prop, Petero Civoniceva, will embrace the PNG rugby league fans when he comes to Port Moresby for the Legends of League clash between Australia and PNG next month.

All thanks to PNG Nambawan Trophy Ltd (NWTL) for getting behind Civoniceva and making him available for the Legends of League match.

The match is part of the PNGNRL Bid to have more international matches in PNG and to enchance PNG’s chances of having a team in the Australian national rugby league competition. The Australian born Fijian, Civoniceva, has now given his thumbs up to be part of the Australian Legends that will take on the former PNG Kumuls in the Ela Motors Legends of League game.

In an announcement made by PNG Nambawan Trophy Ltd, Civoniceva is widely regarded as one of the best forwards to have played rugby league, and his coming is a boost for the game in PNG.

Civoniceva is one of the best league players in the world, with a distinguished playing career, which has seen him joining 3 NRL clubs. He is the most capped forward for Queensland (33) and for Australia (45) and is the third on the list of all time appearances for Queensland. He also has three NRL premierships under his belt, won while playing for the Brisbane Broncos.

“The coming of Petero was sponsored by PNG Nambawan Trophy Ltd, and we are excited about his participation in the Legends event,” said PNG NWTL Group General Manager, Jim Gui.

“Petero is a true gentleman of the game, very approachable, with excellent values and is truly looking forward to working in PNG with our group of companies. He is regarded as one of the greats in rugby league and we are very pleased he will be taking part,” Gui said.

“We want to be associated with winners and Petero is certainly a winner, but also very humble. Our company can only benefit from having someone of Petero’s caliber as spokesperson, endorsing our products and services,” added Mr Gui.

PNGNRL Bid CEO, Brad Tassell, said that Civoncivea’s appearance was a major boost and sincerely thanked PNG Nambawan Tropy for securing Petero’s participation in the Legends of League event. “He is a class act. Not only is he one of the greatest forwards to ever lace on a boot but he is genuinely a nice guy. We want that type of person to be part of the event and to go back to Australia and promote the good things about PNG rugby league,” Tassell said.

Meanwhile, Civoniceva said that he was looking forward to the experience. “I am excited about coming to PNG and playing in front of all the great PNG fans and supporters. I am really looking forward to working long-term with the NWTL group of companies and Jim Gui,” Civoniceva said.

PNGNRL Bid also announced yesterday that former PNG Kumuls hardman, Raymond Karl, has confirmed his availability for the match. Other PNG legends that have yet to confirm their availability are Marcus Bai, John Wilshere and Bruce Mamando.

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121019/sport01.htm

[DIEHARD]

MPs make Kumuls Legends side

THE PNG Legends team were announced yesterday to take on the Australians in the Ela Motors Legends of Leagues match on Nov 18 at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby.

Interestingly, two parliamentarians, Simbu Governor Noah Kool and North Bougainville MP Lauta Atoi, have made the final team after the close of public voting last Friday

PNGNRFL Bid chief executive officer Brad Tassell said over two thousand votes were received from the public on who they wanted to see in the PNG legends team.

“Congratulations to the players, coach and managers selected. It is an honour for them to be voted into the inaugural PNG legends team by the PNG public.

“This is their team, voted by them and we are looking forward to a really great weekend of Legends events, culminating in the match on Nov 18,” Tassell said.

The squad members will be contacted to ensure their availability to play and will go into camp at the Holiday Inn on Nov 16.

They will be guests of honour along with the Australian Legends at the Legends Dinner that night at the Dynasty Restaurant, Vision City.

Tickets for the dinner and corporate tickets for the match are still available.
“I know the players selected are very excited and very proud to take part in the Ela Motors Legends of League.

“They are coming from all over PNG, Australia and the UK to take part.
“We’re now encouraging fans to get to the match and support their legends team in what will be a really entertaining day of rugby league,” Tassell said.
Richard Wagambie and Kera Ngaffin who were both in the nominated PNG Legends list of 25 for voting, were named as coach and co-manager for the PNG Legends team.

PNG Kumuls’ coach AdrianLam named captain and Rabaul Gurias mentor Michael Marum as vice-captain.

PNG Legends: Dairi Kovae, Arnold Krewanty, Bal Numapo, Mea Morea, David Gomia, Stanley Gene, Adrian Lam (C), David Wesley, Michael Marum (VC), Raymond Karl, Arebo Taumaku, Bernard Waketsi, Nande Yer, Stanley Haru, Daroa Ben Moide, Tuksy Karu, Max Tiri, Noah Kool, Louta Atoi, Andrew Norman, Richard Wagambie (coach), Kera Ngaffin (manager), Peter Barnanga (assistant).

Tassell also said he would love to see the PNG Legends come together and work to improve the game in PNG.

“The players in the squad now have the opportunity to come together and support the improvement of rugby league in PNG. I think it’s a great opportunity for the players to start to discuss forming an Old Boys Club or FOGS type concept (former Origin greats) similar to what is in place in Australia.

“We would certainly support that type of initiative as it will have a positive effect on the game in PNG with the former greats having a voice and an avenue to put back into the game they love.”

Players who were unavailable for selection due to other commitments were Bruce Mamando, John Wilshere, Marcus Bai, Tom O’Reilly and Mark Mom.
Former PNG Kumuls players are asked to contact the PNG NRL Bid office on 325 9499 to register their name and contact details for the lap of honour prior to the match.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/40551

[DIEHARD]

At this rate we need a former RL players association who can work in development in the bush and overseas. This would be awesome especially on the back Fittler and Johns Fiji effort.

Love to see it on Australian TV but we couldn't even get PMXIIIs. LIVE streaming would be a more realistic option. Seening as their goal would be to impress and expose the game to us Aussies.

[TITAN PETE]

Legends lure Civoniceva out of retirement

RSS
Wayne Heming AAP Tue, Nov 13, 2012 - 4:42 PM

Veteran rugby league forward Petero Civoniceva will end 72 days of retirement to play for the Australian Legends against PNG in Port Moresby on Saturday.

The most capped forward for both the Queensland Origin side (33 games) and Australia (45 games) surprised the rugby league world last month when he announced a career comeback to play for his former Brisbane club Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup.

On Saturday he will join ex-NRL players including Cliff Lyons, Robbie O'Davis, Nathan Blacklock, John Hopoate, Paul Sironen, Julian O'Neill and former Kiwi winger Sean Hoppe in a legends side coached by former Test captain Max Krillich.

"Originally I thought I was just going up there (PNG) to help promote the legends clash but they've told be to bring my boots," Civoniceva said.

"I'm going to be a pretty sore boy come Sunday morning."

Civoniceva played the last of his 309 NRL games in Townsville last month after the Cowboys ended Brisbane's season with a 33-16 finals win at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

He said he was "very excited" about taking up his new post with former Parramatta favourite Nathan Hindmarsh later this month as community engagement officers rolling out future NRL programs and initiatives.

"Hindy and I had a bit of a laugh that we'd been appoint the new ceo of the NRL," said Civoniceva.

"I'll be working out of the Queensland Rugby League office with some flexibility to do some days out of Redcliffe as well.

The Australian legends team is: Robbie O'Davis, Nathan Blacklock, Scott Hill, Matt Geyer, John Hopoate, Julian O'Neill, Noel Goldthorpe, Martin Lang, Jamie Goddard, Petero Civoniceva, Paul Sironen, Bryan Niebling, Scott Sattler, Justin Loomans, Cliff Lyons, Sid Domic, Stuart Kelly, Leo Dynover, Sean Hoppe, Jamie Feeney. Coach: Max Krilich.

[DIEHARD]

Petro is a legend. Doing this, playing QCup and working for the ARL Commission. What a star.

Wish this was streamed. Ive said it before, but ARL Commission needs a video team that is deployed.

[Titanic]

Wrote this elsewhere but put it here just for those interested in history and an opinion
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Taking a lend of legendary legends

On a sure to be hot and sunny afternoon at Port Moresby’s Lloyd Robson Oval this November the 18th, two teams will take the field in an exhibition game of gargantuan proportions or so we are being led to believe. PNG will take on Australia in the land where payback is so much more than a seven-letter word.

The concept of “legends” matches is fine and noble. A parting look at the receding hairlines and bourgeoning waistlines of our gladiators does not diminish the respect that these players earned with their exploits on the field in days of yore. Many have been the debate, often beer-fueled, comparing past champions with their contemporary versions.

Not that these events will belay such arguments, as they are more likely to pose more questions than answers. The transitions within rugby league in PNG have been tumultuous to say the least.

From the humble beginnings of armed servicemen playing on temporary airfields during the Second World War rugby league enmeshed itself into the fabric of contemporary PNG culture. In the ‘50’s hardened miners working the goldfields around Wau/Bulolo competed against expatriate plantation owners from exotic islands and the wild west-like highland regions.

Always at the forefront were the media darlings; the Australian public servants in Port Moresby who played for such quaint clubs as Magani, Kone and Paga. Arguably the first PNG legend was John Kaputin, later to become a member of the national parliament, who carved his name into the history books by being the first Papua New Guinean to play First Grade in 1963.

After Independence in 1975, rugby league became dominated by local players as the expatriate population diminished. Names such as John Wagambie emerged from obscurity to become household heros. One of the last expatriate players of that era was Sean Dorney, better known these days as the ABC’s man in the Pacific.

The fervor with which PNG embraced the Greatest Game of All didn’t go unnoticed in Sydney and several players were invited to trial in the “bigtime”, most notably DCA’s Tara Gau, who trialed with Balmain. Two of his wantoks will play in the exhibition game this November: the flashy centre Dairi Kovae and ironman Arebo Taumaku who played every position in the Kumul pack throughout a wonderful career.

Other legends of those by-gone times include Lloyd Robson whose name lives on in perpetuity for his contribution to league in Port Moresby as the groundsman. Sir Jim Jacobi, the elder statesman, who ruled the roost as President for more than forty years and the irrepressible Bruce Flynn; player, sponsor and Patron. In more recent times, the names of Kevin Murphy, an ex-kiap turned rugby league administrator and Tubuseria’s Tau Peruka, the first local president of Port Moresby Rugby League made their marks.

Arguably the highlight of PNG’s forays with international rugby league came during the period 1986-1996. Wins over Great Britain and New Zealand, the introduction of a fully national competition, entry into the Queensland Cup and the fallout from the Super League debacle all made PNG a lively place for those who followed the thirteen a-side game. Etched in many peoples’ minds are also the exploits of the Port Moresby Vipers in the seven-a-side version of the game during the now defunct World Sevens. Acrobatic try scoring antics, Melanesian passion and fearless tackling made every game a must-view for the curious Sydney fans. Who will ever forget Daroa Ben Moide's phallic corner post dance or Tuksy Karu's pillow try?

Many of the players on show later this month, took part in those heady days. Since then rugby league has followed the path of professionalism in fits and starts. Great players have emerged; Adrian Lam, Stanly Gene, Marcus Bai and most recently David Mead. However, with the media fixation firmly rooted on the NRL and the inability of rugby league across the South Pacific Islands to gather any combined momentum, the sport is currently at a crossroads.

It is not likely that the PNG Bid can gain enough support for entry into the NRL in the near future, nor is it likely that Pacific tournaments will attract the financial support that it so badly requires to entice back their stars. Those stars who should be role models for their people will only become legends for their Australian or New Zealand clubs.

The conundrum for the ARLC and the International body is where will the next batch of PNG legends come from? Wapenamanda or Wagga Wagga?

[Sydney Titans Fanatic]

How are the MP's who have been chosen by the png legends ment to stand up to and tackle petro. There Gonna Get Destroyed

[Titanic]

They scored the winning try over Lauta Atoi's wing in the Brisbane Grand Final he played in, so nothing much will have changed mind you it will be a fun game and surely Petero will only play a cameo.