U16 NRL Bid Southern zone beat Queensland Murri team

The PNG NRL BID Southern Zone squad took the honours against the Queensland Murri U16 team in an entertaining match on Sunday at Lloyd Robson Oval. 

The PNG NRL Bid in a press release praised the team’s performance saying that the Southern Zone took out the game 22-16 which featured some big hits, quality football and long range tries much to the enjoyment of the crowd on hand for the PRL finals.

The match was the last of a two game PNG tour for the Queensland Murris who went down to a POMIS open team 24-22 last Friday before taking on the U16 PNG NRL BID Southern Zone team on Sunday. 

The tour was a joint initiative of the PNG NRL BID and the Arthur Beetson Foundation. Former Queensland and Australian representative Tony Currie along with Arthur Beetsons sons Brad & Kristian attended the tour, which was coached by former Broncos & Penrith player Sid Domic and former Rabbitohs & Cowboys player Justin
Loomans.

The Murri tour also included a visit to Bomana War Cemetery and Hanuabada Village, which had a big impact on the visitors.

PNG NRL BID game development manager Arnold Krewanty said: “The boys I think were really humbled by the experience. The tour was not only about getting game time, but was also to experience a different culture and way of life. 

To most of the boys it really opened their eyes and I think they will go back to their communities better people for the experience and appreciate more what they have. Hanuabada welcomed them with open arms and they loved the entire experience.”

The Queensland Murri side is selected from the best indigenous talent in Queensland and contained an Australian U15 schoolboy’s representative and a Melbourne Storm contracted player, with other members being scouted by NRL Clubs.

Krewanty said it was vitally important for PNG Youth to test themselves constantly against quality opposition.
“It is the only way they will improve and we were extremely proud of our boys on Sunday,” he said.

The BID has put a lot of effort into providing a pathway and giving our schoolboy players these type of opportunities and we are really seeing the benefits. They played with discipline and flair and everyone watching was impressed by the quality of play and how good our own home-grown talent is. 

We keep telling the boys in our program that they are every bit as good as the best Australian kids if they listen to what they are being taught and it is starting to sink in. 

Considering there were about 5 boys from yesterday’s game in our 42 player development squad shows the enormous talent we have throughout the country.”

Krewanty also stressed Corporate and Government support was vital to the long-term future of the program.
“The BID has shown over the past 18 months what a structured professional program can deliver and this is having a significant impact on the lives of not only the kids playing but their families and entire communities. 

It is vital this continues long-term. If we are getting this type of quality of player coming through in the second year of the program imagine how good they will be in 3 to 5 years time? This is the future of rugby league in our country and we are determined it will continue to grow.”

Source: Post Courier Online