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]
| 2023 Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (Digicel Cup) | |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 16 – September 3, 2023 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Premiers | Enga Mioks (2nd title) |
| Minor premiers | Enga Mioks |
| Broadcast partners | Digicel (Subscription) |
Teams
editThe 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
editRound 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
editAll 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 Finals | Major / Minor Semi-finals | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Enga Mioks | 6 | 1 | Enga Mioks | 26 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Lae Snax Tigers | 4 | 6 | Goroka Lahanis | 6 | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Hela Wigmen | 8 | 2 | Lae Snax Tigers | 18 | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Goroka Lahanis | 14 | 6 | Goroka Lahanis | 19 | |||||||||||||
| 4 | Rabaul Gurias | 18 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Goroka Lahanis | 24 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Rabaul Gurias | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Mendi Muruks | 26 | ||||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Digicel remains naming right sponsor sponsorship". Post Courier. May 26, 2022.
- ^ "Digicel Cup to get strict – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Sepik Pride to join 2023 PNG Digicel Cup season". Asia Pacific Rugby League. 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023.
- ^ https://www.tiktok.com/@waghipridemedia/video/7222603090174676225
- ^ https://pngnrlc.com/round-2-of-the-2023-digicel-exxonmobil-cup-continues-tomorrow/
- ^ https://www.thenational.com.pg/muruks-stop-gurias/
- ^ https://www.thenational.com.pg/draw-change/
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Play Rugby League - Competitions".
- ^ "Digicel Cup Round 16 Kicks off This Weekend". 17 August 2022.
- ^ "Draw change – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
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