Agmark Rabaul Gurias

The halftime the score was 10-8 in favour of Gurias. There was a big turnout at the graveyard, the Kalabond field today was just the motivation the Gurias needed and eventually paid off, handing Lae Snax Tigers their first loss of the season.  
 
With only 8 minutes into the game and former Guria, Emil Benjamin scored the opening try unconverted to give Tigers an early lead 4-0. Gurias replied with an unconverted try of their own through a Saki Peter to level the score at 4 all. 

At halftime, Gurias were leading 24-4. The East Sepik franchise in waiting have embraced and accepted the reality of what semi-professional rugby league is all about.

Interestingly and to the surprise of local rugby league fans, one quarter of the Sepik Pride side was made up of former Gurias in the likes of Wartovo Puara Jnr, Peter Jimmy Jnr, Lepan Tuvi, Samual Hamari, Muka Kalu Peter and Elipas Pidik, to provide some leadership and add confidence and experience to the young outfit.

The Gurias showed their class, power and experience early in the contest to take the lead 18-6 to halftime.

It was Guria's prodigal son Stanley Olo darting out of dummy half to open the scoring which was successfully converted by Saki Peter to give Gurias a 6-0 lead over  Cutters. 

The team is looking forward to a final 40-players training squad, the Gurias Management the team has also confirmed the departure of a number of experience players from last year that includes captain Edward Goma (retired), Tuvi Lepan (retired) Liam Joseph (Hunters), Eliakim Lukara (Isou), Andickson Yamason (Isou) and Roy Ellison joining the Mendi Muruks.

The Gurias selection process for  pre-season started in December last year with the staging of the inaugural "Clash of the Town" tri-series between Kokopo Marlins of Kokopo City league and Rabaul  Ashes of Rabaul rugby league. 

The latest appointment now completes the Gurias coaching staff to be headed by former Kumuls centre, Francis Ray, who was also the coordinator and coach of the Highlands confederate schoolboys.

Bruno brings with him not only experience as a player and winning premierships for the Gurias but also Queensland Cup experience as trainer with the PNG Hunters coaching staff under Michael Marum.

He was one of the foundation players of the Hunters alongside fellow Gurias, Israel Eliab, Albert Patak, Wartovo Puara Jnr, William Akuila, Lepan Tuvi and Ase Boas.

Ray was the coordinator and coach of the Highlands Confederate Schools rugby league and has worked closely with current Kumul Coach and former Gurias and Hunters coach, Michael Marum, over the past two years. He was highly recommended for the job.

Francis has shown, in his short coaching career, that he can take the team to the finals; something that the Gurias have not done since 2016 when they lost to Lae Snax Tigers.

The Agmark Rabaul Gurias and its sponsors have congratulated Francis Ray on his appointment and look forward to a solid 2 years ahead. 

Having the home crowed to their advantage, Gurias dominated the match in the first half, leading with 12 points, while Vipers strolled behind with 10.

In the second half, Vipers slithered their way back into the lead, with a new game plan, to force their way through the Gurias heavy defence.

The visitors then repositioned themselves well, and eventually scored two tries.

Gurias responded, but it wasn’t enough to reach the Vipers, who were comfortably sitting on 22 points.

At fulltime, the Gurias were trailing with 14 points.

The East New Britain outfit had the rug pulled from beneath them in round 4 of the Digicel Cup competition when the Wamp Nga Eagles came from behind to register a 2-point victory.

Though the tide was in their favour, the Gurias failed to successfully execute their sets, flickering off at the Eagles’ tryline.

Despite leading with 10 points at halftime, the Hagen team came from behind to record 12 points by fulltime.

Gurias coach, Marcus Kaugla, said the majority of new players are yet to find their niche.

The Gurias last won the grand final title in 2015 against Simbu TNA Lions and lost it the following year in 2016, to the Lae Snax Tigers.

For the past 5 years Gurias have struggled to regain that their dominance in the country’s premier competiton.

The loss of franchise owner and mentor Papa Guria, the late John Nightingale last year was more devastating then motivating for the team when they failed to make the grand final play off.

At least that’s the bold message from PNGRFL High Performance Manager and Kumul Coach Michael Marum who’s currently overseeing the Gurias preseason program.

Since taking charge of the Gurias preseason training, Marum warned players with ill discipline and attitude problem will not be tolerated in the camp regardless of their status or seniority.