The newly established Erave Rugby League (ERL) competition ended its inaugural 2024 season on a high following the conclusion of the Grand Final on Saturday, October 26th, at Kamare Oval in Erave Station.
Erave Rugby League was established and affiliated with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) earlier this year after meeting all the requirements and compliance processes of starting a sanctioned competition.
After 14 intense and physical rounds of battle between the 16 participating teams (8 teams each for A & B Grades), the grand finals for the two divisions have successfully been completed over the weekend.
In the B Grade division, the Junior T-Rox edged the Kawaso Bulldogs with an 11-10 victory, while the Ambo Roosters defeated the Puki Raiders with an 8-6 margin in the A Grade division. Both deciders went down to the wire in front of the packed onlookers.
ERL Director, Emmanuel Eralia was pleased to finish the 2024 season on a positive note, extending his thanks to the organising committee and the sponsors, including the participating teams and fans for a successful year.
“I would like to thank the sponsors, my hardworking executives led by president Daniel Mere and Aaron Epawe, the 16 teams who took part and the supporters,” Eralia said.
“We have hosted a historic grand final for the first time in Erave and successfully completed the 2024 season without any violence or disturbance. Everything ran smoothly and ended peacefully.
“As the ERL director, I’m very happy and proud to witness the successful completion of the new competition. I see that there’s a bright future for the league in the district and the province.”
Mr. Eralia highlighted the main reason behind the creation of Erave Rugby League, which was to address four social issues:
Law & Order - By engaging the youths, especially the young boys to take part in rugby league, it has helped them to stay away from bad habits, such as marijuana, home-brew, alcohol, and other bad substances;
Expose Raw Talents - The ERL competition has not only addressed the law & order issues in the community, but it has also created the avenue for the players to showcase their skills and market themselves to further their careers;
Create Spin-off Benefits - The competition has given the opportunity to the mothers to sell their local produce from the garden and earn some money to sustain themselves, in terms of paying their children’s school fees and other personal needs, while generating cashflow in the community; and
Build Unity - Most importantly, the establishment of ERL was to create unity, peace and harmony among the people, and help them to work together for the greater good of Erave.
Young Eralia believes that what they started will gain traction, and he hopes that the Erave Rugby League will grow bigger, better and stronger next year and into the future.
Meanwhile, the best players will be selected from the 16 teams to participate in the Southern Highlands Provincial 9s tournament in Mendi, while the two grand finalists will take part in the Highlands Club Championships, which will be held in Eastern Highlands or Enga.
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