The 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Football Conference commenced over the next five days, created by the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNG NRLC) to gather 12 teams, to best assist contending teams to prepare for the season, which kicks Off on April 13th. The conference has three focus groups-the Franchise Managers, the Head coaches, and the medical Trainers. As part of the collaborative approach to the season, the Franchise Manager Head will have close engagement with the PNG NRLC team to ensure adequate governance and compliance as top priority. The head coaches will also maintain acknowledgement of the officiating standards of the games with hands on training in performance analysis and session readiness by Mr. Joe Grima, the Manger for Coaching Development high performance. The game places a lot of emphasis on player welfare, safety, and medical care. Club Medical Trainers will need to undergo a tense two-days training coordinated by AFS GROUP owner, Mathew Harrison, to become the first ever Sport Medical Trainer-Rugby League accredited by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL). The PNG NRLC’s General Manager Mr. Leith Isaac stressed the healthy foundation of early collaboration between the establishment and the Clubs Officials to promote standards in player safety, governance, compliance, player development and coaching education to pursue professionalism. The Chief Executive Officer of PNGRFL, Mr. Stanley Hondina stressed the commitment of the game’s administration to provide essential training and atmosphere in the different aspects in rugby to mental and physical fitness in the right environment. We are collaborating closely with Australian experts, utilizing their experience within the organization to deliver the best support in one of the pillars of “Club Professionalism as captured in our PNG NRLC strategy Plan.” “For this season, we will focus on building good coaches, strengthen and conditioning and medical trainers who are to prescribed international standards,” said Hondina. The conference will run from Wednesday, proceeding with the franchise Managers then followed by the Head Coaches and conclude with the medical Trainers on Sunday.