The Lae rugby League Board today expressed frustration over statements made by PNG NRL Chairman Sudir Guru in relation to the change of venue for the Digicel Cup grand final.
In a newspaper article last Thursday, Guru and his board raised concerns over the quality of the ground, safety and security of players and match officials.
The Lae Rugby League Board says Guru’s statements were demeaning to the Lae League and its' integrity as one of PNG's leading rugby league facilities.
They have also demanded an official apology from the PNG NRL before this Sunday’s Digicel Cup grand final.
A venue for the Digicel Cup grand final between Hela Wigmen and Rabaul Gurias has been a much-debated issue among the rugby league fraternity since last week.
While security concerns were a main reason for the change of venue to Kokopo, many rugby league followers, including the Hela Wigmen franchise, have argued for the game to be played in Lae.
However, the Lae Rugby League Board today expressed frustration over demeaning statements made by the PNGNRL Board chairman regarding the Lae Rugby League ground hosting the Digicel cup grandfinal.
The LRL Board says statements made by the PNG NRL Board chairman were baseless and a direct insult to the board and members of the Lae Rugby League fraternity.
Referring to an article in last Thursday’s newspaper, Lae Rugby League secretary Martin Surap says Guru’s statements were unsubstantiated and were his personal thoughts.
The board has also decried lack of funding support from the PNG NRL Board when hosting Digicel Cup games in Lae.
Security concerns discussed by the PNG NRL Board in their meeting last week were all brushed aside by the Lae Rugby League Board.
They say police and security personnel have been present throughout the Lae games and there have been no major incidents of violence reported this year.
The Lae Rugby League board has also demanded an official apology from Sudir Guru before the grand final is played at the Lae Rugby League ground this Sunday.
They say the LRL ground has been preparing to host the Digicel Cup grand final and have been regularly educating the spectators over the last two months.
It is a neutral venue and hundreds of supporters for both teams are expected to turn up in numbers to cheer their teams.
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