Wighton, the 2019 Clive Churchill Medal winner and 2020 Dally M Medalist, has been a mainstay of Blues teams since coming off the interchange to replace Cody Walker at five-eighth early in the second half of the 2019 series opener. The 28-year-old has been selected in the centres for every Origin since but with Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell both fit and in form, Wighton had been expected to play in the No.6 jersey. However, NSW coach Brad Fittler opted for Luai alongside his Panthers halves partner Nathan Cleary and Wighton was told he may be used as a roving…
Author: PNG Haus Bung
The Asia Pacific’s best men’s international teams will turn their focus towards Rugby League World Cup 2021 after conceding mid-season Test matches in Australia could not go ahead. The Asia Pacific Rugby League had hoped its member nations could play in late July as part of the mid-season international clashes that have quickly grown in popularity. However, the challenges of international movements created by COVID has made the mid-season Tests unviable. Instead, the Asia Pacific teams will now turn their focus towards the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) starting in England in late October. The RWLC brings together 16 teams…
More than twenty students graduated with a certificate in Social Science Research Methods after a week of intensive study at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNG NRI) on Friday 21 May 2021. The students gained skills in designing and planning a social research project; developing questionnaire for conducting survey; designing questions for conducting interviews; conducting qualitative and quantitative data analysis; and, conducting literature review. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Course Coordinator and PNG NRI Deputy Director for Research Associate Prof. Eugene Ezebilo congratulated the students and told them that what they have learnt would help them in research…
Papua New Guinea has recorded 28 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours ending 12 midday on Monday May 31, increasing the total number of cases to 15,938. The cases were reported in three provinces with Eastern Highlands Province reporting the highest of 14 cases, National Capital District 10 and New Ireland province with four cases. Of the 28 cases reported, 21 were males whilst seven were females. Their ages range from 14 to 39 years. A total of 14 cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing, three had existing medical conditions and one had to…
Olympic hopeful Rellie Kaputin got her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine this week in Brisbane, along with Coach Phillip Newton. Thanks to the Australian Olympic Committee and PNGOC for facilitating the vaccines for Olympic Training Squad members. Rellie has her next competition this Saturday at the Gold Coast where she is hoping to better her seasons best of 6.25m in the long jump and hopefully pick up some valuable ranking points in what is an Oceania Athletics Area Permit Meet. Rellie will renew her rivalry with Annie McGuire of Australia with whom she has had some good competitions this…
Like social media giant, Facebook, the newly introduced TikTok app is doing its share of rounds for everyday Papua New Guinean’s and has gained momentum as it did widely around the world and is fast becoming one of the main entertainment options for teens and adults alike. This app is not foreign to Papua New Guineans who use it and have become familiar with it creating accounts to follow trends, edit photos, using filters and effects and following either educational, inspirational, food, humorous or other content pages that are available. But here’s the catch; weighing in on the pros and…
Kina Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Judith Ugava-Taunao as Chief of Staff reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. In this new senior leadership role, Judith will take a position on the Executive Committee, demonstrating Kina’s continued commitment to promoting PNG women into leadership roles. Judith joins Kina Bank with a distinguished career, having worked in international development, organisational transformation, and human resource development and leadership. For 18 years she has built a career that spans across international borders and sectors. Prior to joining Kina Bank, Judith was at Oil Search where she served as the Vice…
The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) Board has reduced the registration fees by half for all 12 Franchises due to a shortened 2021 Digicel Cup season. PNGNRLC Chairman Adrian Chow said the decision was reached at a Board meeting on Saturday ahead of the season kick off this weekend. “In view of the hardships faced by franchises during these difficult times amid the global pandemic, the National Rugby League Competition (NRLC) Board decided that the registration fees of K200,000 plus GST for 2021 will be subsidised by 50% to K100,000 plus GST,” Chow said. “The Board also…
The Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape, MP will formally handover the Framework Agreement for the reopening of the Porgera Mine in Enga Province to the affected landowners. PM Marape announced this today following reports that the affected landowners in the province have apparently protested against a planned visit this week to be called off. “Since taking Office on May 30th 2019, I have advocated for greater share of the benefits from our resources to landowners and affected landowners and that stands. “That is why we have amended existing resource laws including the Mining Act 2020 and the Oil and Gas…
The recent announcement by the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) that it will be partnering with a private firm to build a casino in Port Moresby raises serious governance implications on the sector says Transparency International PNG (TIPNG). It has been reported by the media that the NGCB and the Paga Hill Development Corporation (PHDC) signed an MOU to build a casino which in its first phase of development will cost at least K150 million. “In signing this agreement, the State through the NGCB is seriously undermining its independence as the industry regulator. Regulators like the NGCB have the important…