Building on the success of last weekend’s PNG NRL Bid Championship finals, the National Youth Competition (NYC) will kick off this weekend as a curtain raiser to the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Round 6. The first match will be this Saturday in Rabaul, East New Britain Province, where the ENB Agmark Gurias will take on the Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Viper in the first match. Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Performance and Pathway General Manager Tony Archer said that this will be a historic weekend for PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNG NRLC) as NYC will have three matches played not only in Rabaul but across the country at PNG Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Round 6 matches in Port Moresby and Goroka. “The NRL Bid Championships allowed our year 7/8 and 9/10 and open females to showcase their rugby league talent and now the National Youth Competition will allow our male under 19 players to perform at the PNG NRLC standard. “ “The start of this competition this weekend is another important step forward in growing the game and our clubs." "It is creating more opportunities for our young players to develop their skills and play in a national pathway competition." "It will be exciting to see the new crop of players emerge from this seven-week competition” The PNGNRLC NYC will allow clubs, the families and our rugby league fan to see the best young talent in the country. With the support of our broadcast partner Digicel PNG, all Port Moresby Games will be televised on TVWAN Sports 2 and Round 1 match will be televised live from the Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday at 12.15pm Mr Archer stated that the Importance of the competition is that we have six pathway clubs having a youth competition that draws the talent in a combination from NRL Bid Academy, and our local Affiliate leagues. “Under the PNGRFL Community Rugby League Affiliate League, PNG NRL BID and now the NYC will Draw a direct catchment area for the Pathway clubs under PNG NRLC and onward to the SP PNG Hunters and the big dream of International Rugby League.” “The start of this competition this weekend is another important step forward in growing the game and our clubs." "It is creating more opportunities for our young players to develop their skills and play in a national pathway competition." "It will be exciting to see the new crop of players emerge from this seven-week competition.” “The introduction of this competition is another important part in delivering our PNGRFL Pathway and Performance strategy plan in creating a national youth pathway competition.” The completion of the seven-week NYC competition will culminate with a Grand Final on the weekend of Saturday 28th-Sunday 29th, June.