Junior Vipers Academy heading in right direction

The Junior Vipers Academy hosted the Trinity Bay State High School from Cairns in a friendly match on Saturday, 24 October 2026, at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.  

In front of a passionate crowd, the emerging stars showcased their skills and entertained the fans, with the visiting Australian young guns pulling off an 18-16 victory in a thrilling contest.   

The scorching heat did not help either side’s cause as both struggled to score points. Towards the end of the first quarter, Trinity Bay State High School broke the deadlock, taking a 6-0 lead.  

A few minutes later, the hosts responded with a 4-pointer, trailing the visitors by 2 points. The lads from Down Under answered back, leaving the halftime score at 12-4. 

The match turned into a slugfest in the second half. The home side bagged two tries, and the Aussies registered a try, leveling the score on 16 points apiece. 

One minute before full-time, Trinity Bay State High School converted a 2-point penalty goal inside the Junior Vipers’ 10-meter line to shatter the capital boys. 

NCD Sports Youth and Civic Manager, Chris Topa, said he was happy with the result, noting that it is a good platform for Junior Vipers’ emerging players to test their skills against the talented boys from Australia.

“We are hosting this friendly match to create opportunities for our young people through sports,” Topa stressed.

“Not only in sporting capacity, but also adding to the values of teamwork and individual discipline to keep the youth grounded.

“The program itself is improving, and one of the things that I appreciate and find encouraging to see is the resilience shown by our boys.

“Regardless of the scoreline, they did not deviate from the game plan. It was unfortunate that in the last minute, they gave the game away. Otherwise, I’m really impressed.

“It has been a very good program so far. We have a really good relationship with Trinity Bay State High School.”  

Topa said the friendly fixture has opened doors for the Vipers’ budding talent to explore and further their careers abroad, particularly the Cairns-based academy, and serves as a platform to launch their careers with the PNG Chiefs. 

“Trinity Bay also has a rugby league excellence academy, so this is an opportunity for our players to be scouted by the club,” he explained.

“Obviously, the Chiefs will play in the NRL in 2028, so NCDC, through this program, is providing a pathway for our Port Moresby-based kids to tap into that pathway and realize their dreams.”

Mr. Topa revealed that through this partnership with Trinity Bay State High School, the Junior Vipers Academy planned to establish a school academy that covers rugby league and other sports as well.

The NCD sports boss sincerely thanked the NCD Governor, Hon. Powes Parkop, for his consistent backing. He also acknowledged the organizing committee and the fans for their support.

Established in 2024, the annual friendly match between Junior Vipers Academy and Trinity Bay State High School serves as a pathway for PNG talent, especially Port Moresby-based players.