Papua New Guinea international Edene Gebbie is diligently working to attain peak fitness before making his debut with the Whitehaven Rugby League Club. Having recently joined the club during the final stages of preseason, Gebbie, a former SP PNG Hunter, missed the recent Cumbrian derby against Barrow Raiders in the 1985 Cup fixture on Sunday, where Whitehaven suffered a 12-18 defeat at ORTUS Rec, United Kingdom.

Jonty Gorley, the head coach of the club, explained that Gebbie has acclimatized well but requires additional time to ensure he is fully prepared before donning the No.1 jersey. In an interview with BBC Cumbria Sports, Gorley stated, "He’s only been in the country a couple of weeks. I don’t think we’re playing him next week. He is a bit off, to be fair, and our team is working that out."

The Papua New Guinea LNG Kumuls team has been announced to face Fiji Bati in the final round of the Pacific Championships 

THE Papua New Guinea Kumuls camp welcomed the rest of its United Kingdom-based players this week with Rhyse Martin, Edwin Ipape, Wellington Albert, McKenzie Yei and Keven Appo joining the squad.
The five were in training with the team yesterday and are likely to figure in coach Justin Holbrook’s team which will be announced today to take on the Fiji Bati on Sunday.
After the Kumuls 46-10 win over the Cook Islands in week one of the Pacific Championships a fortnight ago, Holbrook will have to decide on who makes the match-day 17 and who has to sit out the fixture against the Bati.
Kumuls 2022 Rugby League World Cup skipper and Leeds Rhinos forward Martin told the media yesterday that he was grateful and excited to be able to play for PNG.

The Papua New Guinea Rugby League (PNGRFL) CEO, Mr. Stanley Hondina together with the newly appointed Chairlady for the Santos PNG Orchids, Celestine Ove, in a press release, announced the 21-person squad for the upcoming Pacific Championships this October – November 2023. Papua New Guinea will participate with the PNG LNG Kumuls and the Santos PNG Orchids, playing matches in Port Moresby. 
The teams under Head Coaches Justin Holbrook of the PNG LNG Kumuls and Ben Jeffries of the Santos PNG Orchids, are set to field the best available athletes in the sport, competing at the highest possible level and also exposing talent having come through the existing PNGRFL pathways. 
Mr. Hondina shared, “With the excitement from the Prime Minister’s XIII and finally having international exhibition and test matches now returning to PNG, we are seeing the different levels of the pathway for our game highlight the ability of our pool of players from the various national championships and now the mentioned matches.”

PNGRFL ANNOUNCES PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS SQUADS
The Papua New Guinea Rugby League (PNGRFL) CEO, Mr. Stanley Hondina together with PNG LNG Kumuls Chairman, Wapu Sonk in a press release, announced the 21-person squads for the upcoming Pacific Championships this October – November 2023. Papua New Guinea will participate with the PNG LNG Kumuls and the Santos PNG Orchids, playing matches in Port Moresby. 
The teams under Head Coaches Justin Holbrook of the PNG LNG Kumuls and Ben Jeffries of the Santos PNG Orchids, are set to field the best available athletes in the sport, competing at the highest possible level and also exposing talent having come through the existing PNGRFL pathways. 
Mr. Hondina shared, “With the excitement from the Prime Minister’s XIII and finally having international exhibition and test matches now returning to PNG, we are seeing the different levels of the pathway for our game highlight the ability of our pool of players from the various national championships and now the mentioned matches.”

​2023 Pacific Championships Schedule 
Week One – October 14-15 

• Australia v Samoa (men) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
• Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium Townsville
• PNG v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
• Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby 

Week Two – October 21-22 

• New Zealand v Samoa (men) at Eden Park, Auckland
• New Zealand v Tonga (women) at Eden Park, Auckland
• Fiji v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
• PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby 

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) is very excited to announce the PM’s XIII annual rugby league fixture between PNG and Australia is back, and will be held in Port Moresby this month.
The last time the PM’s XIII matches were held here in PNG was back in 2018 for both the Men and Women.
CEO of PNGRFL, Stanley Hondina, in making the announcement said the PNGRFL were delighted to see the game back in PNG after 5 years, and fans will be treated to a massive weekend of rugby league come the 23rd and 24th of September.
He said, “For the first time in the history of the PM’s XIII matches, there will be 12 teams playing 6 games over 2 days, something that’s never been done before and we look forward to welcoming all our fans over the two days.”
The PM’s XIII concept is an initiative of both the PNG and Australian governments since 2005 and is aimed at using rugby league to drive social awareness messages. This year will see the introduction of the Australian school boys and girls taking on our Junior Kumuls and Orchids respectively, thanks to the Australian government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the NRL.

 The Papua New Guinea Kumuls coach Stanley Tepend  has announced his team lineup to face Wales in the final round of the Rugby World Cup. ​

​PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls flyers Edene Gebbie and Xavier Coates have been ruled for the remainder of the Rugby League World Cup due to injury, with coach Stanley Tepend calling it “devastating” news.
“To have a players go down in any squad is devastating news for any coach,” he said.
“Having received the results from the MRI scans, a decision has been made that is in the best interest of the injured players, that they return home to start their rehabilitation.

The Papua New Guinea Kumuls team have arrived in the United Kingdom. The Rugby League World kicks off this weekend with the opening watches that will see England taking on Samoa and Australia plays Fiji on Saturday 15th, October, 2022.
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