Without support from any business house in his home town or a recognition from the governing body such as the PNG Rugby Football League, a rugby league lover in Milne Bay is going out every weekend, doing a roll-check for every street kid so he can put them into a viable mini-mode program.

Noel Aria, from Alotau is keeping himself busy come every Saturday and Sunday, assembling school-aged children under the age of six to 12 to impart the basics of rugby league and teaching some techniques and skills.

He started the junior development program called Hidomo Junior Rugby League this year after seeing that interest in the code was lost after the COVID-19 interruption to the local competition.

Mr Aria has since started the program to revive the code in the province.

The program is now into its fifth week at the Habona Rugby League Oval, with presentations and awards to the participating clubs at the end of the season and year.

Mr Aria, who anticipates to partner with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League to revive and continue his program said the interest has grown from strength to strength.

"I love rugby league. I returned home after the COVID-19 pandemic, I missed the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup and other big comps in the city, I have to find some way to quench that," Mr Aria said.

"COVID-19 pandemic stopped our local competition and they are struggling to get back on so I decided to start with the junior and this program is working really well.

"We have kids at the age of five to 13 participating in the program which means we only teach them the basics."

Benjamin Koitaka - PNG Post Courier