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.
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 who were terminated for breaching the participation agreement in 2022.
Regular season
Round 1 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Port Moresby Vipers30–10Mt Hagen Eagles16 April 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumMendi Muruks26–12 Kimbe Cutters16 April 2023, 13:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae Lae Snax Tigers12–10Central Dabaris16 April 2022, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, LaeGoroka Lahanis30–30Hela Wigmen16 April 2023, 15:00National Sports Institute, GorokaEnga Mioks12–10Rabaul Gurias16 April 2023, 15:00 Aipus Oval, WabagGulf Isou8–14Sepik Pride16 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:https://www.tiktok.com/@waghipridemedia/video/7222603090174676225
Round 2 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Kimbe Cutters14-20 Lae Snax Tigers23 April 2023, 15:00KimbeMendi Muruks34-16Mt Hagen Eagles23 April 2023, 13:00LaeHela Wigmen11-14Enga Mioks23 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSepik Pride14–14Goroka Lahanis23 April 2023, 15:00WewakRabaul Gurias16-12 Port Moresby Vipers22 April 2023, 14:00Kalabond OvalGulf Isou14-16Central Dabaris23 April 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:https://pngnrlc.com/round-2-of-the-2023-digicel-exxonmobil-cup-continues-tomorrow/
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Lae Snax Tigers32–2Mt Hagen Eagles30 April 2023, 13:00Lae Rugby League Ground, LaeGoroka Lahanis14-14Gulf Isou30 April 2023, 15:00GorokaEnga Mioks32-6Sepik Pride30 April 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, WabagCentral Dabaris16-10 Kimbe Cutters30 April 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium Port Moresby Vipers18-14Hela Wigmen30 April 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumMendi Muruks18-2Rabaul Gurias1 May 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, LaeSource:https://www.thenational.com.pg/muruks-stop-gurias/
Round 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias30–12Hela Wigmen6 May 2023, 14:00Kalabond OvalMt Hagen Eagles8–28Enga Mioks6 May 2023, 14:00Jonah Amban Oval, MinjGoroka Lahanis18–26 Lae Snax Tigers7 May 2023, 14:00GorokaMendi Muruks16-8 Kimbe Cutters7 May 2023, 15:00Lae Port Moresby Vipers32-8Gulf Isou7 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumCentral Dabaris22-18Sepik Pride7 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:https://www.thenational.com.pg/draw-change/
Round 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceEnga Mioks30–18 Kimbe Cutters14 May 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, WabagSepik Pride14-16Gulf Isou14 May 2023, 13:00WewakGoroka Lahanis32-10Mt Hagen Eagles14 May 2023, 15:30NSI GorokaMendi Muruks10-12 Lae Snax Tigers14 May 2023, 15:00LaeHela Wigmen 22-20 Port Moresby Vipers14 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumCPG Central Dabaris20-26Rabaul Gurias14 May 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 6 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceSepik Pride14-16 Port Moresby Vipers 20 May 2023, 14:00Wewak Kimbe Cutters12-18 Lae Snax Tigers20 May 2023, 14:00KimbeMendi Muruks17–18Mt Hagen Eagles21 May 2023, 15:00LaeGoroka Lahanis16-20Enga Mioks21 May 2023, 14:00NSI, GorokaHela Wigmen24–20Central Dabaris21 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumGulf Isou10–28Rabaul Gurias21 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 7 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias30-12Sepik Pride27 May 2023, 14:00Kalabond OvalEnga Mioks28-14Mendi Muruks28 May 2023, 13:00WabagGoroka Lahanis22–6Kimbe Cutters 28 May 2023, 13:00Kimbe Lae Snax Tigers38–16Mt Hagen Eagles28 May 2023, 14:00LaeHela Wigmen26–10Gulf Isou28 May 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumCentral Dabaris42–26Port Moresby Vipers28 May 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 8 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceSepik Pride14–22Hela Wigmen3 June 2023, 14:00WewakKimbe Cutters38-10Mt Hagen Eagles3 June 2023, 14:00 Kimbe Lae Snax Tigers4–6Enga Mioks4 June 2023, 13:00LaeMendi Muruks17–12Goroka Lahanis 4 June 2023, 14:00LaeCentral Dabaris20–10Gulf Isou4 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football Stadium Port Moresby Vipers10-16Rabaul Gurias4 June 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 9 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceHela Wigmen24–10Rabaul Gurias10 June 2023, 12:00Santos National Football StadiumSepik Pride24–12Central Dabaris10 June 2023, 14:00Wewak Lae Snax Tigers38–10Mt Hagen Eagles11 June 2023, 13:00LaeGoroka Lahanis18-14 Kimbe Cutters11 June 2023, 14:00Goroka Port Moresby Vipers12-18Gulf Isou11 June 2023, 14:30Santos National Football StadiumMendi Muruks20-26Enga Mioks11 June 2023, 15:00LaeSource:
Round 10 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias20-12Central Dabaris17 June 2023, 14:00Kalabond OvalGulf Isou18-16Sepik Pride18 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumGoroka Lahanis22-20Mt Hagen Eagles18 June 2023, 15:00GorokaMendi Muruks14-14 Lae Snax Tigers18 June 2023, 15:00LaeHela Wigmen 18-14 Port Moresby Vipers18 June 2023, 15:00Santos National Football Stadium Kimbe Cutters8-16Enga Mioks17 June 2023, 14:00KimbeSource:
Round 11 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias34–6Gulf Isou24 June 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval, Kokopo Kimbe Cutters26–6Mt Hagen Eagles25 June 2023, 14:00Humphreys Oval, KimbeGoroka Lahanis16–14Mendi Muruks25 June 2023, 13:00NSI GorokaHela Wigmen16–16Central Dabaris25 June 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumEnga Mioks18–12 Lae Snax Tigers25 June 2023, 15:00Aipus Oval, Wabag Port Moresby Vipers14-18Sepik Pride25 June 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 12 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceSepik Pride36–26Rabaul Gurias1 July 2023, 14:00WewakEnga Mioks22–10Goroka Lahanis2 July 2023, 14:00WabagMendi Muruks32–4Mt Hagen Eagles2 July 2023, 14:00Lae Lae Snax Tigers30-18 Kimbe Cutters 2 July 2023, 11:00LaeCentral Dabaris10-24 Port Moresby Vipers2 July 2023, 13:00Santos National Football StadiumGulf Isou8–22Hela Wigmen2 July 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 13 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias18–14 Port Moresby Vipers 8 July 2023, 14:00Kalabond Oval Enga Mioks34–18Mt Hagen Eagles9 July 2023, 12:30Wabag Lae Snax Tigers24–26Goroka Lahanis9 July 2023, 15:00Lae League Ground, Lae Kimbe Cutters22–19Mendi Muruks9 July 2023, 15:00KimbeHela Wigmen18–6Sepik Pride9 July 2023, 13:00PNG Football Stadium Central Dabaris8–10Gulf Isou9 July 2023, 15:30Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 14 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceCentral Dabaris24–0Mt Hagen Eagles22 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football StadiumRabaul Gurias12–22Mendi Muruks22 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumGoroka Lahanis 12–14Gulf Isou23 July 2023, 12:30Lae Rugby League OvalHela Wigmen26–20 Kimbe Cutters23 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football Stadium Lae Snax Tigers32–8Sepik Pride23 July 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Grounds Port Moresby Vipers22–22Enga Mioks23 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 15 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceRabaul Gurias44–16 Kimbe Cutters29 July 2023, 12:30PNG Football Stadium Enga Mioks22–6Sepik Pride29 July 2023, 15:00PNG Football Stadium Hela Wigmen24–18Mt Hagen Eagles30 July 2023, 12:30Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae Lae Snax Tigers28–12Gulf Isou30 July 2023, 12:30Santos National Football StadiumMendi Muruks 22–20Central Dabaris30 July 2023, 15:00Lae Rugby League Ground, Lae Port Moresby Vipers18–14Goroka Lahanis30 July 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Round 16 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendanceCentral Dabaris36–14 Kimbe Cutters5 August 2023, 12:30Santos National Football StadiumRabaul Gurias40–30Mt Hagen Eagles6 August 2023, 11:00Santos National Football Stadium Lae Snax Tigers20–10 Port Moresby Vipers6 August 2023, 12:30LaeGoroka Lahanis26–16Sepik Pride6 August 2023, 13:20Santos National Football StadiumEnga Mioks18–14Gulf Isou6 August 2023, 15:00LaeHela Wigmen16–10Mendi Muruks6 August 2023, 15:00Santos National Football StadiumSource:
Ladder PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1Enga Mioks1615100348 197 151 312 Lae Snax Tigers1612130358204154 253Kroton Hela Wigmen 1611230325 258 67 244Rabaul Gurias 161105036226696 22 5Mendi Muruks 16817030523867176Goroka Lahanis167360302279 2317 7Gas Resource Central Dabaris167180304270 34158 Port Moresby Vipers 166190 29428014139Gulf Isou1651100190314 -1241110Sepik Pride164 1 110236330 -94 911 Kimbe Cutters1630130256 353 -97612Mt Hagen Eagles1610150196487 -2912
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.
Pool A Ladder PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1Enga Mioks1313000286155131 242 Lae Snax Tigers139130278174104193Goroka Lahanis136340250 231 19 154Mendi Muruks 13616025119061135 Kimbe Cutters1330100206247 -416 6Mt Hagen Eagles1310120148 399 -2512
Pool B Ladder PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1Rabaul Gurias 13904026619868 182Hela Wigmen 13823025921049 18 3Gas Resource Central Dabaris 135170224234-10114 Port Moresby Vipers135080244224 20105Sepik Pride134170206250 -4496Gulf Isou134180150256 -106 9
Finals series HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (Local)Venue Elimination FinalsHela Wigmen 8– 14Goroka Lahanis13 August 2023, 12:30pm National Football StadiumRabaul Gurias 28-26Mendi Muruks 13 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium Major / Minor Semi-finalsEnga Mioks 6 - 4 Lae Snax Tigers 20 August 2023, 12:30pmNational Football Stadium Rabaul Gurias 18 - 24 Goroka Lahanis20 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium Preliminary Final Lae Snax Tigers 18-19 Goroka Lahanis27 August 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium Grand Final Enga Mioks 26-6 Goroka Lahanis3 September 2023, 3:00pmNational Football Stadium
References