Dabaris embracing junior pathway as search for talent continues

Central Dabaris continues to be a shining example of a professional rugby league club with an established junior pathways system.

The franchise is currently hosting a zone championship to identify talents from age ranges - boys under 13, U15, U17, U19, and U18 girls to join the PNG NRL Bid Academy.

Pathways development director Gomara Ahuta said the zone championship has been a flagship program for the franchise with the ultimate goal to build future Dabaris prospects.

"Selected players from all over Central province compete to be part of Dabaris squad in PNGNRL Bid," Ahuta said.

"The selection is based on the NRL bid selection category for the under-13s up to the under-19s and the under-18 girls.
 
"So, this competition or trial is done based on this NRL bid selection requirements."

Teams from Goilala, Hiri East, Hiri West, Motukoita, NCD and Koiari are currently competing for the event scheduled from September 9-13 at Bava Park.

Ahuta said the Skel Rice Central Dabaris Rugby League Junior Zone Championship will be a platform to select merit teams for the five aged divisions

The initiative is affiliated with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League and aligned with the PNG NRL Bid Academy.

"PNG NRL are very supportive, giving us the opportunity to have Central kids to participate in this kind of trials. 

"So, when we select, we can hand over our best players to PNG NRL and they will go into the process and the system of high-performance training at the NRL level."

The junior competition will be played in round-robin format to assemble a hip of Dabaris future stars.