2023 PNGNRL season

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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[edit]

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[edit]

Round 1[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Wamp Nga 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Wamp Nga 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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. ^ https://asiapacificrl.com/2023/02/08/sepik-pride-to-join-2023-png-digicel-cup-season/
  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.
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