The Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers will head into the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup grand final next month after successful matches played over the weekend in Port Moresby city.
Both teams will meet and battle for the K300,000 first prize in the Cup grand final on November 1st, after winning their respective semi-final matches on Sunday 18th October at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, to secure places in the championship decider.
Morobe Pride booked its grand-final berth with a hard-fought 22–18 victory over Northern Master Mark 5mile Heights in the first semi-final, while 3rd City Rangers defeated Ave RLC 20–4 to secure the other spot in the final.
The two victories have set up an exciting grand-final showdown, with both teams now one win away from claiming the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup championship and the tournament's biggest cash prize.
Rigo Rice Cup Chairman Mr. McSteve Polly said the competition had reached a significant milestone after approximately eight to ten months of intense competition involving teams from grassroots communities.
Polly acknowledged the challenges experienced throughout the season, including logistical difficulties and changes in venues, but said the tournament had continued to provide an important platform for emerging rugby league talent.
Despite the challenges, Polly said the tournament had showcased talented players who were seeking opportunities to progress to higher levels of rugby league.
Polly said the Rigo Rice Cup had given grassroots players an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, including some who had previously missed out on selection or opportunities in the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup.
He welcomed the presence of Digicel Cup coach Stanley Tepend and his assistant coach, who attended the matches to observe players and assess potential talent for higher-level competitions.
Polly said the involvement of experienced coaches and rugby league personnel was a positive development for the tournament and the wider rugby league community.
He said competitions such as the Rigo Rice Cup were important in developing local talent and creating pathways for players to pursue opportunities beyond community-level football.
The chairman also welcomed the strong turnout during the finals, describing it as an encouraging sign for the growth of rugby league and the continued support of the sporting community.
The 2026 Rigo Rice Cup offers a total prize pool of K500,000 for the top four teams.
Under the announced prize allocation, the grand-final winner will receive K300,000, while the runner-up will take home K100,000.
The two losing semi-finalists will contest third and fourth place, with the third-placed team to receive K80,000 and the fourth-placed team K20,000.
The prize money adds further significance to the grand final, with Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers now preparing to compete for the championship and the largest share of the tournament's rewards.
Meanwhile, Polly acknowledged that officiating had been a concern for some participating teams throughout the competition.
He said complaints were part of competitive sport, particularly when teams were dissatisfied with match decisions or results. However, he maintained that the competition had engaged experienced referees and officials to oversee the matches.
Polly said the organisers were generally satisfied with the standard of officiating but recognised that feedback from participating teams could help identify areas requiring improvement.
He said the concerns raised would provide an opportunity for organisers to review the competition's administration and make improvements ahead of future seasons.
As preparations continue for the November 1 grand final, Morobe Pride and 3rd City Rangers will now turn their attention to the decisive match, with the K300,000 first prize and the 2026 Rigo Rice Cup title awaiting the eventual champions.