PNGRFL Unites for "Wan Haus" Pawa Meri Round

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has announced the return of the Pawa Meri Round (Women in League Round), scheduled for August 8–9, 2026. 

Under the theme "Strong Women, Strong Families, Strong Communities," the 2026 Pawa Meri Round embodies the "Wan Haus" (One House) spirit, bringing together the PNG Chiefs, SP PNG Hunters, and the PNG National Rugby League Competitions (PNG NRLC) to celebrate the contributions of women in sport and key issues affecting women. 

PNGRFL Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Hondina, explained the Pawa Meri Round: “Pawa Meri, meaning ‘Powerful Woman,’ is about more than just acknowledging our female players, coaching staff, and administrators; it’s about protecting the backbone of our community. By coming together as ‘Wan Haus,’ we promote gender equality and encourage the participation of women in our sport as one team, ‘Wan Haus’.  

PNG Chiefs Chief Executive Officer, Lorna McPherson, added: “We acknowledge the countless women nationwide who guide and champion our sport, from the locker room to the boardroom. As a female-led administration, occupying the Chairperson and CEO positions, the PNG Chiefs serve as a prime model of the impact of empowering and creating opportunities for women, both on and off the field.” 

This commitment to advancing women in rugby league is reflected across the game's national organizations. Collectively, 32 women are helping shape the future of rugby league across the PNG Chiefs, SP PNG Hunters, PNGRFL, and NRL in PNG. This includes 7 women at the PNG Chiefs, 5 at the SP PNG Hunters, 11 at PNGRFL, and 10 at NRL in PNG, demonstrating the growing leadership, expertise, and influence of women across all levels of the game. 

For the first time this year, the Pawa Meri Round will feature an alignment across all elite national competitions during the round in a unified "Wan Haus" commitment. In a powerful display of solidarity, all participating players from the SP Hunters, Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup, and Santos Cup will wear purple socks during their respective matches. 

SP PNG Hunters Chief Executive Officer, Scott Barker, said: “It is important that we use this platform to not only celebrate women in our sport and communities, but also use our platform to drive awareness as well. The PNG Hunters this year, through naming rights sponsor SP Brewery, will be using this round to advocate against domestic violence, which remains a significant issue affecting many women across the country.”  

The Pawa Meri Round is an annual initiative within PNG Rugby League designed to celebrate the contributions of women as players, coaches, administrators, and supporters. "Pawa Meri" embodies the resilience and community strength of PNG women while providing a platform that goes beyond celebration to take a unified stand on key issues affecting women through advocacy and awareness campaigns.