Agmark Rabaul Gurias

Although the Gurias had a scrappy win last weekend, the team will aim to polish up and come much stronger into this match. 

In the match against Vipers last weekend, the crafty little number 9, Nathen Tete, delivered a good service from dummy half. 

He was quick out of ruck into defensive line causing havoc in a tiring Vipers middle. He will be the one to look out for if the game is to break open in the middle. 

Gurias scored 3 tries in quick succession setting up a commanding lead of 22 points to 4 before Dabaris clawed their way back into the contest. 

The highly anticipated round 5 clash was the main drawcard in pool B as fans gathered in the stands to cheer them on.

It was a game of two halves with Gurias dominating the first before Dabaris showed their resilience and class in the 2nd half. 

The new look Vipers outfit were trailing 6-0 at halftime.

Despite flight delays and the long hours of waiting while on transit from Mt Hagen to Port Moresby after the Wabag game, the Gurias showed a lot resolve and resilience to hold out the Vipers early opening surge defensively.

Gurias spine was led by general Ase Boas, Karis Peter and Man of the Match, Nathan Tente who controlled the play well from the outset to get their attack going.

After losing some key players to other franchises this year, the team is focused on rebuilding its core playing group to boost their campaign again this season.

While they will be without the services of a number of their star players from last year's grand final, the 2023 season has again presented an opportunity for new players to step up and fight for spots.

According to Gurias Team Manager, Mapua Tamtu a 40-man squad has been assembled with most of the senior boys from last year retained and are now into pre-season training.

Gun centre Joe Frank “the tank” 2022 five-eighth of the Year Saki Peter and rising prop forward Koso Badi have made the final 30-man squad after impressing Hunters Head Coach, Stanley Tepend at preseason training since  camp started in November.

The Hunters team will be further trimmed down to 25 before the season kicks off in March.

From the Gurias trio, Frank in particular who had a solid season with Gurias in 2022 has worked really hard to earn his spot.

He said that despite a minor incident involving a few Muruks supporters during the match, everything ended peacefully at fulltime.

The former Goroka Lahanis enforcer and now Gurias skipper, Takai played a leading role in the win. 
He also thanked sponsors, families and fans for coming out to support the two teams who played in the true spirit of the game and ended successfully.

While both teams have remained consistent in their winning ways for the majority of the rounds, this year Muruks are looking to upset Gurias on their home turf.

According to local rugby league analysts, tomorrow's top-of-the-table blockbuster fits the bill for a sneak preview to the September grand final.
While it’s a Gurias home game, Muruks have a better for and against striking rate, winning most of their games with over the 30 points margin, and could start as favourites.

The first 17 minutes of football saw Isou hold the Gurias scoreless, but this was not long before Gurias broke the hoodoo courtesy of a penalty kick followed by a try through co-captain, Edward Goma to lead 6-0.

Isou were able to hit back with a converted try through Michael Timothy to draw level again 6-all before Gurias fullback, Ilias Stanley celebrated his first game back with a try just before halftime to extend the lead at 12-6.

It was a high scoring affair from the outset with both teams exchanging tries but Tumbe had the last laugh with the winning try in the final 10 minutes of the 2^nd half to take out the match.

Before the match, it was quite an emotional moment for late Papa Gurias widow Derrie Nightingale when she presented the jerseys to the players for the first time again in 2 years after her late husband and franchise owner John Nightingale passed away in 2020.

From the outset, Dabaris showed a lot of resilience in the first half to hold out the Gurias 14-6 lead, until half until halftime.

Dabaris were first to score from a classic backline move that saw halfback Lote Kuman scooting over for the touchdown and converted to take an early lead 6-0.