Digicel Cup

While training has been intense over the past two months, a lot of focus has been on endurance and conditioning including field and gym sessions before final trials this weekend.

Team Manager Mapua Tamtu said they have plans for two more trial games starting this Saturday between a select side from the Kokopo 9s and the development squad. The best players from this Saturday’s trial will be added to the main Gurias squad.

Tamtu also revealed the Gurias next trial match is against Cutters tentatively set for next week in Kimbe.

The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates to the participants at the Santos National Football stadium lounge on Sunday.

Upskilling trainers with the right knowledge and the latest technics on how to conduct training sessions with their respective teams has been a far cry for years for most Digicel Cup teams.

The PNG National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC) facilitated the training for the 12 participants.

Acting Provincial Administrator, Leo Mapmani presented the K200,000 cheque to the Cutters management team.

For the past five years, the Kimbe Cutters have received support from its naming rights sponsor, the West New Britain Provincial Government through Governor Sasindran Muthuvel including the former Talasea District Development Authority.

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 heat is on for the Digicel Cup rugby league competition with another triple header set for this weekend in Port Moresby.

The Vipers-Gurias clash was initially scheduled for tomorrow, 30^th July in Kokopo but relocated to the Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby as part of the triple header.

As the competition heads into the business end of the season with five matches remaining, Vipers have slipped back into the top 6 after last week’s win over Mt Hagen Eagles.

According to alternative arrangement, matches will be played in Lae, Goroka and Port Moresby on Sunday 1^st July, 2022.

For the Port Moresby fans, the Santos National Football Stadium will host a triple header this Sunday with the Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Vipers playing the Agmark Rabaul Gurias at 11am.

At halftime both teams were locked up at 6 all.

West New Britain Governor and Patron Sasindran Muthuvel said it was a great afternoon back at home watching the boys against the Lae Snax Tigers.

He said the Cutters played really well but lost the lead in the dying minutes.

Governor Muthuvel said, “Regardless, it’s always a pleasure watching our home grown talent showcase in front of our people.” 
The Governor was also happy to present the 2022 PSIP funding of K200, 000 on behalf of the provincial government to the Kimbe Cutters team.

Talita joins the Gulls from the Hela Wigmen in the Papua New Guinea Digicel Cup competition where he was their captain and led the team to the 2020 premiership.

The 26-year old strike centre has been one of the leading players in the Digicel Cup and represented Papua New Guinea at the Rugby League World Cup 9s in 2019.

Seagulls CEO Hanan Laban says Talita will be one to watch this season.

“Stanford has been a star in the Digicel Cup and we are very fortunate to bring him to Wynnum,” Laban said.

After a 11 grueling weeks of rugby league action the stage is set for the top 6 teams to battle on for this year's ultimate prize, the Digicel Cup.

While Tigers (1st) and Muruks (2nd) take the weekend off, the fight continues between Rabaul Gurias and Waghi Tumbe, and POM Vipers vs Hela Wigmen in do or die situation.

Paul Wani, Aaron Kilo and Leonard Alphones have made their way from being rugby leagues players and gone straight into becoming referees are encouraging young players to look into becoming referees as a career pathway.

Senior Referee, Paul Wani said it’s great to see Digicel cup players now refereeing the competition in the game venues around the country.

Wani said: “Players who have come direct from playing to refereeing, has seen an improvement in the quality of the game.”