Dabaris to continue developing junior pathways to push for more Central players in PNG NRL Bid Academy

Students taking part in the Skel Rice Central Dabaris Juniors League (Image: Dabaris)

Central Dabaris Rugby League franchise has been actively fostering junior rugby league development targeting primarily central province school-aged kids in its bid to one day have its elite teams in the Digicel ExxonMobil and Santos NWC Cup dominated by Central Province players.

Over 100 players from its junior program will join the PNG NRL Bid academy next year as the franchise looks to further strengthen its pathway system.

However, Dabaris chief executive officer Hubert Warupi said it has been a difficult journey for the franchise since its inception in 2019 to have its team dominated by its people.

The results have been etched in the records from the onfield peformances from 2019 to 2021.

"Its not a good thing to say but thats the reality at the moment," Warupi said.

"Since 2021 we reviewed our catchment areas to identify and strategise a development agenda and the Juniors League was established in 2022."

CDRL U19 squad to participate in PNGNRL Bid Academy (Image: Supplied)

Warupi said at least 2000 kids have participated in the age divisions from Under-13, U15, U17 U19 boys and U18 girls, in the Skel Rice Dabaris Junior Rugby League program.

The primary agenda of the junior system was to allow young kids from the province to compete in a organised and structured peer competition and for the franchise to identify players who have the potential to go further.

"As a franchise we also recruited technically adept staff to support the program and we have established a Pathways and Performance unit to provide the further training needed to support the talented kids," Warupi said.

With Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League embarking on the PNGNRL Bid program, in alignment with its ultimate aim to have a NRL team, Dabaris franchise is in a good position to enhance the Skel Rice-sponsored juniors league.

"By aligning with the Bid program, we are happy to announce a direct pathway from the Dabaris juniors competition to the Bid program," Warupi said.

"We also have a very supportive corporate partner who believes in the vision of a juniors league and sponsored the Central Dabaris juniors program since 2022.

"Goodman Fielder International through its Skel Rice brand has been a very good partner not only in rugby league but in nation building through sport and nutrition."