Southcity’s pre-season preparations will have an international flavour this time around
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The Group Nine premiers will host a team from Papua New Guinea in Wagga on March.
Rugby league is the biggest sport in Papua New Guinea and the passion for the game will be on full display against the Bulls.
The representative team from the Goroka Rugby League competition will travel to Wagga looking for a taste of what Australian rugby league has to offer.
Southcity footballer manager Matt Ward believes the March 18 clash is a great initiative, even if he isn’t too sure of what to expect on the field.
“It is pretty exciting,” Ward said.
“We are looking forward to it, but have no idea what to expect.
“Apart from they will tough and hard and it will be a real good hit out for us.”
The Goroka competition is situated in the Eastern Highlands and supports a population base of around 600,000 people.
The 36-man touring squad will spend four days in the Wagga region before playing another game at Tweed Heads
The tour is part of a two years of lead up work.
Goroka chairman Sampson Kimisopa has been the driving force behind the initiative.
With rugby league the national sport of Papua New Guinea Kimisopa believes tours like this one can have a big impact on all involved, especially off the field.
“I like it is good for the boys because of our unemployment, education and from a business sense,” Kimisopa said.
“Bringing in expertise from Wagga and for us to come here is like an exchange sort of program.
“They can come and see how to do things better at home.
“I want to bring them here so they can have a feel of it and see how it is done.”
It will be a steep learning curve with 95 per cent of the players travelling outside of Papua New Guinea for the first time.
Pending council approval, the game will be played at Equex Centre.
If not the day will be held at Harris Park.
Plans are for a twilight fixture which will include a curtain-raiser to the first grade clash to ensure all the large touring party can get a taste of taking on their Australian opponents.
Members of the Papua New Guinea parliament are also expected to attend on the day.
Wagga isn’t a stranger to having rugby league players from Papua New Guinea, with Australia playing a test against the Kumuls at Eric Weissel Oval in 1998.