The Kroton Hela Wigmen is a semi-professional Papua New Guinean rugby league team from Hela Province. They currently compete in the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition. They have been playing their home games in Port Moresby while waiting for their new stadium to be completed in 2022,[1] the new stadium will be based in Tari, the capital of Hela Province.

Kroton Hela Wigmen
Club information
ColoursBlue, Yellow, Red
Founded2009
Current details
Ground(s)
CompetitionPNG NRL
Records
Premierships3 (2014, 2020, 2022)
Runners-up1 (2019)

In 2014, they won the Digicel Cup, beating the Rabaul Gurias 34-8 in the grand final in Lae.[2] They won their second premiership title in 2020 defeating Lae Snax Tigers 14-6 in the grand final in POM.[3] They won their third premiership title in 2022 defeating Rabaul Gurias 8-6 in the grand final in POM.[4]

In 2023, the Kroton Hela Wigmen ensured that the Melanesian Club Championship remained in Papua New Guinea following a 28 – 18 win over the Western State Maroons in Lautoka, Fiji.[5]

2022 squad

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Kroton Hela Wigmen
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Junior Bobby FB
  • Nanduka Rame WG
  • Stanford Talita CE
  • Tony Wemin CE
  • Bob Nale WG
  • Eddie Timuku SO
  • Allan Simbiri HB
  • Tommy Moide PR
  • Patrick Morea HK
  • Valentine Culligan PR (c)
  • Daniel Pai SR
  • Junior Igila SR
  • Philemon Taime LK
  • Willie Wala HK
  • Darius Balupa PR
  • Junior Hoki SR, CE
  • Siki Konden SR, CE
  • Roger David LK
  • Peter Pakali FB
  • Ian James SR
  • Bernard Lai HB
  • Atua Joshua WG
  • Kennedy Telege CE, FB
  • Manu Kame PR, LK
  • Jordan Steven CE
  • Cliff Denge HK
  • Lape Peape SO
  • Peter Jeffrey PR
  • Alois Topai SR, CE
  • Jack Alu CE
  • Messach Wallen LK
  • Gori Akuni FB
  • Ham Tina SR
  • Kobu Piju HB

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 06 May 2021
Source(s): [6]


Honours

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League

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Winners (3): 2014, 2020, 2022,
Runners up (1): 2019,

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hela Wigmen to have a stadium by next year". the National.
  2. ^ "Hela Wigmen crowned 2014 Digicel cup champions". PNG Hunters.
  3. ^ "PNG rugby league ends disrupted 2020 season with a bang". RNZ. 20 October 2020.
  4. ^ League, Asia Pacific Rugby (24 September 2022). "Hela Wigmen claim 2022 PNG Digicel Cup title in 98 minute thriller". Asia Pacific Rugby League. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  5. ^ League, Asia Pacific Rugby (25 March 2023). "Hela Wigmen claim Melanesian Club Championship". Archived from the original on 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Hela Wigmen announce co-captains for '21". www.thenational.com.pg. 30 April 2021.