Haro rises from Kaugere to Hunters

By The National Newspaper Sports Reporters

IT was in the mid-2000s when a young boy from the once known notorious Kaugere suburb spent most of his weekends on the sidelines of Kaugere Oval.

Shane Haro would carry his uncles’ boots on one hand and a bucket of sand on the other hand and watch his uncles play.

Whatever the weather, that boy was driven by rugby league and all his family and friends knew it.

Recalling those days, Haro, now 22, loved it, he was passionate about the sport and would look forward to every weekend, rugby league was a dream growing up, no doubt about that.

Today, the Gulf man is among the PNG Hunters 32-man train-on squad gearing up for the 2019 Queensland Cup season.

Challenges in Tabubil

By Rosalyn Albaniel, Post Courier

RUGBY Union is a code that is developing its roots in the mining township of Tabubil, Western Province.

And it is slowly making its mark, which for years has been dominated by rugby league.

It continues to be a big ask for the Tabubil Rugby Football Union Association (TRFU) president Kelly Kesawe and his executives which include Junior John Tomba (vice president), Heather Erwin (treasurer) and Israel Lingham (secretary)…but a task which they have taken head on.

Kesawe told visiting reporters over the weekend that the union tournaments, since the codes inception there, have been played during the league off-season and utilising interested players keen in maintaining their fitness levels.

Tabubil Cats do well in Goroka 7s

By David Kare, Sunday Chronicle

TABUBIL Rugby Football Union sent a very young rugby 7s team under the Tabubil 789 CATS to Goroka to attend the 2016 PNG SP Export Rugby 7s leg in Goroka “Tulait 7s” tournament.

The team comprised of 13 players and three officials.

According to TRFU president Kelly Kesawe the team lacked experience but lead by PNG Rugby 7s experience player Toby Yakumani Jr and captained by long time player Paul Marita the Cats were able to put a good performance.

Kesawe thanked Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) deputy CEO Musje Werror for the approval to use the company charter plane, OTML donation committee for 50% of the travel, Star Mountain Clothing Factory, TE Hardware, Cloundlands Hotel and families and friends for their great assistant.

Bulls take out Pumas

By Grace Ryan, Nyngan Observer

A 29 to 18 defeat over Warren on Friday night showed the Bulls can take home a win night and day.

A strong Bulls team defeated the Pumas in style in Warren demonstrating some fantastic football at the same time.

It took the boys some warming up on the freezing cold Friday evening, but after a few plays and a giving away a couple of penalities, they seemed to find their stride.

Outside centre and team co-captain Dom Kennedy found the try line first for the Bulls and after a successful conversion by Matt Sheather morale for the home team instantly lifted.

JCU prove party poopers at Machans Beach

By Sam Davis, The Northern Beaches News

JCU Mariners beat Barron Trinity Bulls in the first FNQ Rugby premier grade game at the Bulls’ new headquarters at Machans Beach on Saturday.

In front of a decent crowd at the ‘Bull Ring’ and without massive offseason recruit Kele Degei due to a knee injury, the Bulls put in a highly committed and gutsy performance before finally being overpowered 26-10.

The match was evenly poised in the 55th minute when Bulls’ reserve Dwayne Irvine crossed to reduce the Mariners advantage to 14-10.

But quick replies from Mariners fullback Rob Rodokal and livewire winger Joel Skyes sealed a well-earned 16 point win for the visitors.

A legacy left at Port Douglas Reef Raiders

What a fantastic afternoon today was!

It started with a scenic drive from Cairns to beautiful Port Douglas, a tourist hotspot for the wealthy and retired. The primary reason for the trip though was to watch the A Grade rugby game between Port Reef Raiders and JCU Mariners at the Sports Complex. The match resulted in a 47-14 thumping of the host team by JCU boys - an terrific win!

Today was Ladies Day. The women spectators were greeted with delicious champagne, scrumptuous finger food and gift bags filled with fabulous goodies - all sponsored by QT Port Douglas Resort, a member of Australia's newest hotel brand, the QT Hotel chain.

Today was also bittersweet. It was heartwarming to hear from a handful of locals expressing empathy for the Cats sitting out this year's Port Douglas 7's tournament. But best of all was seeing the team's name etched into the history books at the club house. The fact that the Tabubil Cats have left a legacy in Port Douglas is truly awesome!

Photo by A. Aruha

Inaugural OTML Parker Sevens on

The inaugural OTML Parker rugby sevens tournament was launched in Tabubil on Saturday 13 September, by OTML Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Parker.

The one-day tournament was sponsored by OTML and Camp Administration Limited and drew two teams each from Tabubil and Kiunga. The tournament showcased the first-ever womens rugby teams comprising of women from Tabubil and surrounding villages including secondary school students, OTML and contractor workers and dependants.

Cats win inaugural 2014 Kiunga Easter Rugby 7s Tournament

The OTML Tabubil Cats have won the inaugural 2014 Kiunga Easter Rugby 7s Sevens tournament held in Kiunga on Saturday 19 April.


The 2014 Kiunga 7s winners - Photo by K. Kesawe

The Cats won all three pool games including a nervous semi-final game which secured them a Cup Final play-off against the home side’s top team in Kiunga One.

The lack of crowd support in hostile territory did little to dampen the spirits of mainly a development outfit that set out to win the tournament.

Despite the taxing turnaround of games with limited playing personnel, the Cats managed to utilise their experience well and maintained consistency throughout their games and secured the Cup final victory with a 15-7 score line against Kiunga One.


Cats finish 3rd in Port Douglas 7s

The OTML Tabubil Cats rugby team returned to Tabubil early this week, finishing third in the 2014 Port Douglas Sevens tournament.

The defending champions returned to the Port Douglas Sports Complex in the hope of winning the tournament a second time and become $5,000 richer but were stop short in their tracks by Cairns team, Aspire who put an end to the Cats' winning streak.

2013 Port Douglas Sevens Champions

The OTML Tabubil Cats are the champions of the 2013 Port Douglas Sevens, having just returned from the tournament which was held on February 23rd.

The tournament is into its third year but this was the first appearance by the Cats, and the second leg of their annual Australian Rugby Tour. Fourteen teams assembled at the Sporting Complex on Port Street for the one-day tourney to battle for the cup and $2500 in cash. Despite the wet weather conditions, the games went ahead as scheduled and showcased great rugby.