U19 Mt Hagen Eagles celebrates victory : Picture by PNG NYC
History was made over the weekend as the U19 Mt Hagen Eagles were crowned champions after beating the U19 Goroka Lahanis 20-16 in the first-ever National Youth Competition Grand Final.
The first half was tough, with both teams showing strong defense. The Eagles managed to lead by a narrow 2–0 at halftime after a penalty kick.
The second half was more exciting, with both teams turning up the heat in attack. The Lahanis fought hard to stay in the game, but the Eagles stayed strong and focused until the final whistle, sealing a memorable win and claiming the title.
The U19 Goroka Lahanis also put up a strong performance throughout the tournament, proving themselves as worthy contenders in this youth competition.
The National Youth Competition is aimed at developing young rugby league talent in the country in preparations for the 2028 NRL campaign
The successful competition is supported by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL), Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL), the PNG NRL Bid team, and PacificAus Sports.
