Bintangor Goroka Lahanis

The franchise management confirmed the reinstatement of the former head coach after he was sidelined last season. Urakusie last coached the side in 2022 with the franchise missing out on making the cut for the finals.

“I trustingly called Gonzela Urakusie to coach. He had a disciplinary problem last year and that’s why we sidelined him and brought in Charlie Wabo. But we made way for him to come into the team,” said franchise manager Tom Pori.

The appointment of Urakusie was amongst some key changes in the club including standing down team Captain Charlie Buka. 

This match will be the final preliminary final of the 2023 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup Competition. The winner of the match proceeds into the grand final to play the EPG Enga Mioks, while the loser bows out of the competition.

This highly anticipated match kicks off today at 2:50 p.m. at the Santos National Football Stadium.

But one of Morobe’s very own, Sonny Wabo has reminded the fans that his side is well prepared for the challenge.

It was 24 - 18 in the 2nd elimination final of the 2023 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup, in front of the packed Santos National Football Stadium on Sunday. 

Charlie Buka and veteran captain, Thomson Teteh got the Lahanis on the front foot early, using their attacking prowess to send Gurias back paddling. They selfishly kept possession for a good 20 minutes and turned them into valuable points to lead 18-0 before Gurias got back into the contest to trail 8-18.

This outcome results from the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) Appeals Committee reviewing decisions made by the Match Review Committee on the incident that occurred on Sunday, 24th April 2022 in the Round 1 match played in Goroka between the Lahanis and Kroton Hela Wigmen.

The brand new bus was presented to the team at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.

Local member Aiye Tambua officiated at the presentation, handing over the bus to team franchise owner, Simon Sia.

“The people of Goroka are proud that we are donating the bus because the Lahanis always carries the name of Goroka around everywhere they go and play.

“This season is a very short season, the bus might not be utilized as much but that doesn’t matter, Lahanis is a season, Lahanis will stay, all of us will come and go (but) the Lahanis will be there,” Tambua added.

Being a former player and part of the Lahanis system, Moses will be assisted by Lahanis veteran and captain, Gonzella Urakusi, with the main focus on reinforcing the team’s culture and standards.

As part of the team’s selection criteria to finalise their 2020 squad, a trial match has been scheduled for the 3^rd of February at the NSI. The trial will feature Team Red and Team Brown, comprising development players from the Lahanis Academy program while the regulars will be rested.

Strengths were evenly matched in the first 30 minutes of the match until table-toppers, Mioks, broke the ice with a Paul Wawa try.

A successful conversion ensured a 6-0 lead for them until Brendon Nima responded a few minutes later.

An unsuccessful conversion left the scores at 6-4 until a return from second half saw Mark Tony score the winning try for the Eastern Highlands side.

In front of a tightly-packed National Football Stadium, the Lahanis came from behind to claim the cup with a score of 10-6.

It was a tough encounter between both teams as each fought to gain the upper hand.

However, 19 minutes into the match and a pass from Tumbe’s fullback, Micah Pia, got intercepted by Amos Kafare at the Lahanis’ 40-metre mark.

With three chasers behind the left winger, he gave them a run for their money as he broke the ice with the first try of the match.

It was 4-0 until right before half time, the Lahanis slotted in another try through hooker, Charlie Buka.

It was a slow start for both teams as they battled it out at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

The first game of the triple header in Port Moresby started off under a slightly overcast sky.

It took eight minutes for the Kroton Hela Wigmen to finally find their footing and register a first try for the match.

Wigmen’s Daniel Tapol broke the ice by crossing over the right side of the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis’ line.

An unsuccessful conversion by Stanley Olo left the score at 4-nil.

Yesterday they defeated the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis at the Oil Search National Football Stadium, 14 points to 10.

It was neck and neck through-out the first half of the game until Larsen Marabe scored the first for the 3^rd-placed Vipers, just a couple of minutes before the half-time whistle. Benton Leme met Marabe halfway with a conversion.

Back into second half, the attacks and defense from both sides intensified, but not without a lot of ball handling errors as a fifth-placed Lahanis fought tooth and nail to get one over.