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Papua New Guinea National Rugby League

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition or PNGNRL is a semi-professional rugby league competition held annually in Papua New Guinea. Formerly known as the SP Inter-City Cup it changed its name after new sponsorship and new teams entered the competition

History

It began in 2005 with 8 teams in total from all around Papua New Guinea. In 2006 one team got relugated (Monier Broncos) to make way for two new teams, Central Raiders and Pagini Warriors. The inaugural winner of the competition was the Port Moresby Bulldogs who beat the Island Gurias in Port Moresby. In the short history of the tournament the competition has shown high levels of rugby league play in Papua New Guinea, which is the only nation in the world to call rugby legaue their national sport.

Famous people

Marcus Bai who played for 3 season which the Port Moresby Vipers (Now Port Moresby Bulldogs). Marcus Bai played for NRL premiership winners Melbourne Storm and Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls. He now plays in the European Super League Tournament.
Eliyas Piyo who played for the Adelaide Rams and Western Reds in the Australian Super League. Piyo home club was the Port Moresby Vipers (Now Port Moresby Bulldogs).
Stanely Gene who played for the Goroko Lahanis for 2 seasons. He then played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the European Super League, before joining his current club Bradford Bulls. * Makali Aizue who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in the European Super League. A powerhouse prop forward who played for the Lae Bombers.

Teams

Island 'Agmark' Gurias Home Ground: Kalabond Field, Kokopo

Mendi Muruks

Home Ground: Madang

Lae Bombers

Home Ground: Lae

Toyota Enga Mioks

Home Ground: Johnson Siki Aipus Oval, Wabag

Mt Hagen Cowboys

Home Ground: Mt. Hagen Show Ground, Mt Hagen

Goroka Lahanis

Home Ground: Sir Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka

Central Province Raiders

Home Ground: Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby

Port Moresby Bulldogs

Home Ground: Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby

Pagini Warriors

Home Ground: Kundiawa Rugby Legaue Oval, Kundiawa

Former Clubs

Monier Broncos exited in 2004

Port Moresby Vipers exited in 1999

Simbu Angrass exited in 1999

Former SP Inter-city Cup

Previous to 2005 the PNG NRL was called the SP Inter-City Cup. The national competition is known as the SP Cup, and has been held since 1990. No competition was held in 2004 due to financial problems and province violence in certain provinces. But the competition returned for 2005 season as the new-look PNGNRL. Much like the new PNGNRL format the old SP Inter-City Cup had teams competing in a format much like the Australian National Rugby League format, with the top 4 clubs at the end of the rounds entering play-offs, culminating in a Grand Final held in the capital city Port Moresby.

History of Premiers

Year	Premiers	Runners Up	Score	Attendance
1990	Port Moresby Vipers	MT Hagen	22-14	9,230
1991	Port Moresby Vipers	MT Hagen Eagles	18-16	8,900
1992	Port Moresby Vipers	MT Hagen Eagles	36-0	12,112
1993	Goroka Lahinis	Port Moresby Vipers	22-10	8,291
1994	Port Moresby Vipers	Goroka Lahinis	36-30	8,011
1995	Lae Bombers	Mendi Muruks	28-18	10,232
1996	Mendi Muruks	Kuniawa Warrior	11-10	12,312
1997	MT Hagen Eagles	Lae Bombers	19-16	10,271
1998	MT Hagen Eagles	Mendi Muruks	14-6	9,278
1999	Goroka Lahinis	Island Rabaul Gurias	18-16	10,812
2000	Enga Mioks	Island Rabaul Gurias	36-20	14,123
2001	Island Rabaul Gurias	Goroka Lahinis	18-2	10,912
2002	Lae Bombers	Island Rabaul Gurias	14-12	12,321
2003	Island Rabaul Guirias	Lae Bombers	17-16	12,381
2004*	Mendi Menjals	Popondetta Butterflies	22-0	12,322
2005	Island Gurias	Port Moresby Bulldogs	23-14	10,249
2006	Mendi Muruks	Goroka Lahanis	19-14	12,021

Competition not held that year