2023 PNGNRL season

2023 Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (Digicel Cup)
DurationApril 16 – September 3, 2023
Teams12
PremiersEnga Mioks (2nd title)
Minor premiersEnga Mioks
Broadcast partnersDigicel (Subscription)
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 season of Papua New Guinea National Rugby League competition will be the 33rd season of the premier rugby league competition in Papua New Guinea since 1991.[1]

Teams

The competition will still have 12 franchise teams competing in 2023 with the inclusion of successful bid team, Sepik Pride at the expense of Waghi Tumbe[2] who were terminated for breaching the participation agreement in 2022.[3]

Regular season

Round 1

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Port Moresby Vipers 30–10 Mt Hagen Eagles 16 April 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks 26–12 Kimbe Cutters 16 April 2023, 13:00 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Lae Snax Tigers 12–10 Central Dabaris 16 April 2022, 15:00 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Goroka Lahanis 30–30 Hela Wigmen 16 April 2023, 15:00 National Sports Institute, Goroka
Enga Mioks 12–10 Rabaul Gurias 16 April 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, Wabag
Gulf Isou 8–14 Sepik Pride 16 April 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[4]

Round 2

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Kimbe Cutters 14-20 Lae Snax Tigers 23 April 2023, 15:00 Kimbe
Mendi Muruks 34-16 Mt Hagen Eagles 23 April 2023, 13:00 Lae
Hela Wigmen 11-14 Enga Mioks 23 April 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Sepik Pride 14–14 Goroka Lahanis 23 April 2023, 15:00 Wewak
Rabaul Gurias 16-12 Port Moresby Vipers 22 April 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval
Gulf Isou 14-16 Central Dabaris 23 April 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[5]

Round 3

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Lae Snax Tigers 32–2 Mt Hagen Eagles 30 April 2023, 13:00 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Goroka Lahanis 14-14 Gulf Isou 30 April 2023, 15:00 Goroka
Enga Mioks 32-6 Sepik Pride 30 April 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, Wabag
Central Dabaris 16-10 Kimbe Cutters 30 April 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Port Moresby Vipers 18-14 Hela Wigmen 30 April 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks 18-2 Rabaul Gurias 1 May 2023, 15:00 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Source:[6]

Round 4

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 30–12 Hela Wigmen 6 May 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval
Mt Hagen Eagles 8–28 Enga Mioks 6 May 2023, 14:00 Jonah Amban Oval, Minj
Goroka Lahanis 18–26 Lae Snax Tigers 7 May 2023, 14:00 Goroka
Mendi Muruks 16-8 Kimbe Cutters 7 May 2023, 15:00 Lae
Port Moresby Vipers 32-8 Gulf Isou 7 May 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Central Dabaris 22-18 Sepik Pride 7 May 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[7]

Round 5

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Enga Mioks 30–18 Kimbe Cutters 14 May 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, Wabag
Sepik Pride 14-16 Gulf Isou 14 May 2023, 13:00 Wewak
Goroka Lahanis 32-10 Mt Hagen Eagles 14 May 2023, 15:30 NSI Goroka
Mendi Muruks 10-12 Lae Snax Tigers 14 May 2023, 15:00 Lae
Hela Wigmen 22-20 Port Moresby Vipers 14 May 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
CPG Central Dabaris 20-26 Rabaul Gurias 14 May 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[8]

Round 6

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Sepik Pride 14-16 Port Moresby Vipers 20 May 2023, 14:00 Wewak
Kimbe Cutters 12-18 Lae Snax Tigers 20 May 2023, 14:00 Kimbe
Mendi Muruks 17–18 Mt Hagen Eagles 21 May 2023, 15:00 Lae
Goroka Lahanis 16-20 Enga Mioks 21 May 2023, 14:00 NSI, Goroka
Hela Wigmen 24–20 Central Dabaris 21 May 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Gulf Isou 10–28 Rabaul Gurias 21 May 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[9]

Round 7

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 30-12 Sepik Pride 27 May 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval
Enga Mioks 28-14 Mendi Muruks 28 May 2023, 13:00 Wabag
Goroka Lahanis 22–6 Kimbe Cutters 28 May 2023, 13:00 Kimbe
Lae Snax Tigers 38–16 Mt Hagen Eagles 28 May 2023, 14:00 Lae
Hela Wigmen 26–10 Gulf Isou 28 May 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Central Dabaris 42–26 Port Moresby Vipers 28 May 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[10]

Round 8

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Sepik Pride 14–22 Hela Wigmen 3 June 2023, 14:00 Wewak
Kimbe Cutters 38-10 Mt Hagen Eagles 3 June 2023, 14:00 Kimbe
Lae Snax Tigers 4–6 Enga Mioks 4 June 2023, 13:00 Lae
Mendi Muruks 17–12 Goroka Lahanis 4 June 2023, 14:00 Lae
Central Dabaris 20–10 Gulf Isou 4 June 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Port Moresby Vipers 10-16 Rabaul Gurias 4 June 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[11]

Round 9

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hela Wigmen 24–10 Rabaul Gurias 10 June 2023, 12:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Sepik Pride 24–12 Central Dabaris 10 June 2023, 14:00 Wewak
Lae Snax Tigers 38–10 Mt Hagen Eagles 11 June 2023, 13:00 Lae
Goroka Lahanis 18-14 Kimbe Cutters 11 June 2023, 14:00 Goroka
Port Moresby Vipers 12-18 Gulf Isou 11 June 2023, 14:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks 20-26 Enga Mioks 11 June 2023, 15:00 Lae
Source:[12]

Round 10

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 20-12 Central Dabaris 17 June 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval
Gulf Isou 18-16 Sepik Pride 18 June 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Goroka Lahanis 22-20 Mt Hagen Eagles 18 June 2023, 15:00 Goroka
Mendi Muruks 14-14 Lae Snax Tigers 18 June 2023, 15:00 Lae
Hela Wigmen 18-14 Port Moresby Vipers 18 June 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Kimbe Cutters 8-16 Enga Mioks 17 June 2023, 14:00 Kimbe
Source:[13]

Round 11

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 34–6 Gulf Isou 24 June 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval, Kokopo
Kimbe Cutters 26–6 Mt Hagen Eagles 25 June 2023, 14:00 Humphreys Oval, Kimbe
Goroka Lahanis 16–14 Mendi Muruks 25 June 2023, 13:00 NSI Goroka
Hela Wigmen 16–16 Central Dabaris 25 June 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Enga Mioks 18–12 Lae Snax Tigers 25 June 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, Wabag
Port Moresby Vipers 14-18 Sepik Pride 25 June 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[14]

Round 12

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Sepik Pride 36–26 Rabaul Gurias 1 July 2023, 14:00 Wewak
Enga Mioks 22–10 Goroka Lahanis 2 July 2023, 14:00 Wabag
Mendi Muruks 32–4 Mt Hagen Eagles 2 July 2023, 14:00 Lae
Lae Snax Tigers 30-18 Kimbe Cutters 2 July 2023, 11:00 Lae
Central Dabaris 10-24 Port Moresby Vipers 2 July 2023, 13:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Gulf Isou 8–22 Hela Wigmen 2 July 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[15]

Round 13

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 18–14 Port Moresby Vipers 8 July 2023, 14:00 Kalabond Oval
Enga Mioks 34–18 Mt Hagen Eagles 9 July 2023, 12:30 Wabag
Lae Snax Tigers 24–26 Goroka Lahanis 9 July 2023, 15:00 Lae League Ground, Lae
Kimbe Cutters 22–19 Mendi Muruks 9 July 2023, 15:00 Kimbe
Hela Wigmen 18–6 Sepik Pride 9 July 2023, 13:00 PNG Football Stadium
Central Dabaris 8–10 Gulf Isou 9 July 2023, 15:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[16]

Round 14

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Central Dabaris 24–0 Mt Hagen Eagles 22 July 2023, 12:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias 12–22 Mendi Muruks 22 July 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Goroka Lahanis 12–14 Gulf Isou 23 July 2023, 12:30 Lae Rugby League Oval
Hela Wigmen 26–20 Kimbe Cutters 23 July 2023, 12:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Lae Snax Tigers 32–8 Sepik Pride 23 July 2023, 15:00 Lae Rugby League Grounds
Port Moresby Vipers 22–22 Enga Mioks 23 July 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[17]

Round 15

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Rabaul Gurias 44–16 Kimbe Cutters 29 July 2023, 12:30 PNG Football Stadium
Enga Mioks 22–6 Sepik Pride 29 July 2023, 15:00 PNG Football Stadium
Hela Wigmen 24–18 Mt Hagen Eagles 30 July 2023, 12:30 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Lae Snax Tigers 28–12 Gulf Isou 30 July 2023, 12:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Mendi Muruks 22–20 Central Dabaris 30 July 2023, 15:00 Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae
Port Moresby Vipers 18–14 Goroka Lahanis 30 July 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:

Round 16

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Central Dabaris 36–14 Kimbe Cutters 5 August 2023, 12:30 Santos National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias 40–30 Mt Hagen Eagles 6 August 2023, 11:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Lae Snax Tigers 20–10 Port Moresby Vipers 6 August 2023, 12:30 Lae
Goroka Lahanis 26–16 Sepik Pride 6 August 2023, 13:20 Santos National Football Stadium
Enga Mioks 18–14 Gulf Isou 6 August 2023, 15:00 Lae
Hela Wigmen 16–10 Mendi Muruks 6 August 2023, 15:00 Santos National Football Stadium
Source:[18]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Enga Mioks 16 15 1 0 0 348 197 151 31
2 Lae Snax Tigers 16 12 1 3 0 358 204 154 25
3 Kroton Hela Wigmen 16 11 2 3 0 325 258 67 24
4 Rabaul Gurias 16 11 0 5 0 362 266 96 22
5 Mendi Muruks 16 8 1 7 0 305 238 67 17
6 Goroka Lahanis 16 7 3 6 0 302 279 23 17
7 Gas Resource Central Dabaris 16 7 1 8 0 304 270 34 15
8 Port Moresby Vipers 16 6 1 9 0 294 280 14 13
9 Gulf Isou 16 5 1 10 0 190 314 -124 11
10 Sepik Pride 16 4 1 11 0 236 330 -94 9
11 Kimbe Cutters 16 3 0 13 0 256 353 -97 6
12 Mt Hagen Eagles 16 1 0 15 0 196 487 -291 2
  • The team highlighted in blue has clinched the minor premiership
  • Teams highlighted in green have qualified for the finals
  • The team highlighted in red has clinched the wooden spoon

Pools Format

All 12 teams have been split into two pools for the remainder of the season due to flight cancellations affecting teams travels from Round 4.[19]

Pool A Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Enga Mioks 13 13 0 0 0 286 155 131 24
2 Lae Snax Tigers 13 9 1 3 0 278 174 104 19
3 Goroka Lahanis 13 6 3 4 0 250 231 19 15
4 Mendi Muruks 13 6 1 6 0 251 190 61 13
5 Kimbe Cutters 13 3 0 10 0 206 247 -41 6
6 Mt Hagen Eagles 13 1 0 12 0 148 399 -251 2

Pool B Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Rabaul Gurias 13 9 0 4 0 266 198 68 18
2 Hela Wigmen 13 8 2 3 0 259 210 49 18
3 Gas Resource Central Dabaris 13 5 1 7 0 224 234 -10 11
4 Port Moresby Vipers 13 5 0 8 0 244 224 20 10
5 Sepik Pride 13 4 1 7 0 206 250 -44 9
6 Gulf Isou 13 4 1 8 0 150 256 -106 9

Finals series

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time (Local) Venue
Elimination Finals
Hela Wigmen 8– 14 Goroka Lahanis 13 August 2023, 12:30pm National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias 28-26 Mendi Muruks 13 August 2023, 3:00pm National Football Stadium
Major / Minor Semi-finals
Enga Mioks 6 - 4 Lae Snax Tigers 20 August 2023, 12:30pm National Football Stadium
Rabaul Gurias 18 - 24 Goroka Lahanis 20 August 2023, 3:00pm National Football Stadium
Preliminary Final
Lae Snax Tigers 18-19 Goroka Lahanis 27 August 2023, 3:00pm National Football Stadium
Grand Final
Enga Mioks 26-6 Goroka Lahanis 3 September 2023, 3:00pm National Football Stadium
Qualifying / Elimination FinalsMajor / Minor Semi-finalsPreliminary FinalGrand Final
1Enga Mioks61Enga Mioks26
2 Lae Snax Tigers46Goroka Lahanis6
3Hela Wigmen82 Lae Snax Tigers18
6Goroka Lahanis146Goroka Lahanis19
4Rabaul Gurias18
6Goroka Lahanis24
4Rabaul Gurias28
5Mendi Muruks26

References

  1. ^ "Digicel remains naming right sponsor sponsorship". Post Courier. May 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Digicel Cup to get strict – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  3. ^ "Sepik Pride to join 2023 PNG Digicel Cup season". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
  4. ^ https://www.tiktok.com/@waghipridemedia/video/7222603090174676225
  5. ^ https://pngnrlc.com/round-2-of-the-2023-digicel-exxonmobil-cup-continues-tomorrow/
  6. ^ https://www.thenational.com.pg/muruks-stop-gurias/
  7. ^ https://www.thenational.com.pg/draw-change/
  8. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  9. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  10. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  11. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  12. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  13. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  14. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  15. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  16. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  17. ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
  18. ^ "Digicel Cup Round 16 Kicks off This Weekend". 17 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Draw change – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 2023-08-04.