THE LAE City Authority and the Australian government have reaffirmed their strong support for Papua New Guinea’s franchise team in the NRL in 2028, with a focus on developing young talent via the Lae Schools Rugby League and grassroots level competitions. The LCA has further topped up its injection of funding support to K100,000 this year, from last year’s K50, 000 to assist the Lae Schools Rugby League in their endeavour to capture the interest of the wider school network in the Morobe capital. The presentation was made during the staging of the competition Grand Finals for the various age groups on Saturday. This support from LCA has been ongoing since 2027. And to further spike the interest, the LCA has thrown in a 25-seater coaster bus for good measure. This is all part of the LCA chairman and Lae MP John Rosso’s long-term goal to ensure there is a production line of school aged children engaged in this established pathway (PNG NRL BID), and have everything in place to give them every opportunity to pursue a potential career in rugby league. This has piqued the interest of the Australian Government, with Lae-based Australian Consul General Brenton Kanowski affirming their support, by saying that their assistance is not just for the top level of rugby league, but also focused on development pathways and creating opportunities for young talent. Kanowski said: “Competitions like this are important for helping young players build their skills and discipline. “It allows them to be identified for talent pathways that can lead to professional rugby league,” he said. He further said a substantial proportion of the Australian government’s funding is allocated to developing grassroots rugby league in PNG, aiming to build the right conditions for Papua New Guineans to succeed, both on and off the field. He added that players from PNG have already made it into the NRL through teams like the Snax Lae Tigers and other local clubs. “The potential is there. With the right structure and support, more Papua New Guineans can reach the top,” he said. “The support includes training for coaches, referees, and sports staff to help improve the game from all sides.” Kanowski praised the Lae Schools Rugby League organisers and thanked them for their hard work in running an impressive operation. “Competitions like this, not only build future players, but also keeps young people engaged in something meaningful,” he said. Kanowski congratulated the winning team from Bugandi Secondary School and encouraged all students to stay in school, remain disciplined, and continue working hard in both sports and education. “You are the generation that can make it. The opportunity is there, and you must grab it with both hands,” he said. The Lae Schools Rugby League Grand Final day saw Bugandi Secondary School winning the U18 Girls (beat Lae Secondary 6-0), U17 Boys (beat Lae Secondary 12-0) and U19 Boys (beat Malahang Technical School 2-0). Rosso, who is also the patron for the competition, congratulated all participating teams, acknowledged the tournament organisers and encouraged more similar initiatives to take place in the future. “Such initiatives are good for our youths to avoid harmful habits, provides an avenue to showcase their talent and to expose them to greater opportunities.” Rosso added.