Paga without star centre for clash against Magani in Moresby league

By MUSARIKE ANANGAI
Stop N Shop Paga Panthers will be without star centre Gimapau Keimelo when they take on Magani in round four of the Port Moresby rugby league on Sunday at the Lloyd Robson oval.
Keimelo is nursing a knee injury sustained during the Brian Bell Bulldogs trial match two weeks ago. He will be joined on the sidelines by Rodney Kipau who has a sore ankle.
Paga are eighth on the points table with one loss to Kone Tigers (10-34) and victories over Wests (28-22) and Waliya (16-14).
Despite the injuries, the team is geared up to play with coach Richard Wagambie indicating that he will field a near full strength line up after using young players in the first three rounds.
Wagambie has been impressed with his young charges especially Stanley Hagena and Junito Wingi whom he described as a player of the future.
Seventh placed Magani will be aiming for a third consecutive victory after success over Wests 18-12 and previously unbeaten Kone Tigers 28-26 in the last two weeks.
Coach Ivan Ravu said while the team wants to continue winning, the wet weather this week has disrupted training with most players staying away.
Added to that injured skipper and prop Mea Miria will be sidelined for a few more weeks after missing the last two games to an injury sustained during the Bulldogs trial match.
His replacement is likely to be either Ringo Uvau or former Lae Bomber John Korup.
Korup has an imposing frame standing over six feet tall and weighing about one hundred and ten kilos.
Ravu was impressed with Korup’s first match against Wests two weeks ago in which he proved very dangerous particularly in the opposition half.
Ravu added that after last week’s narrow victory, he wants to see his team play for the full eighty minutes.
“My players let their guard down towards the end of the game and the opposition scored three tries in five minutes”, he said.
In the other matches on Saturday, Brothers will take on Kone Tigers, Souths against Dobo Warriors and competition leaders Hawks will take on Post Puma.
On Sunday last week’s comeback kings Royals will take on West, Butterflies against Waliya while Tarangau will play Defence.
 

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