Club out to find old form in new season

THE NCDC Port Moresby Vipers are returning to regain their former status as one of the leading franchises in the semi-professional rugby league competition this season.
The Vipers, who last won the Digicel Cup title in 2013, have struggled to be a force in the competition over the last four seasons.
And their lack of success has translated into a general lack of interest in the former glamour club.
The 2018 season will be the turning point for the club in the Digicel Cup, according to Vipers board chairman Ted Lulu.
Lulu said the Vipers had started to show signs of a resurgence over the last two seasons after finishing with the wooden spoon the year after winning the competition.
The target for the Vipers in 2018 and beyond was to regain lost pride and give the fans something to cheer about again.
“We want to restore the lost pride and confidence in the capital’s team,” Lulu said.
“We also want to be city’s team again and bring the fans back and the excitement as well.”
Lulu said the club was taking serious approach to team management with discipline and commitment as key areas to be improved on to a high standard.
Lulu said one of the first tasks last season was to solve the coaching dilemma with former Kumul Philip Boge replaced by Joe Sipa and more strict-structured approach adopted.
“We’ve retained Joe (Sipa) to coach the side in 2018. He’ll be given time and resources to build on where he left off last season,” Lulu said.
He said there was an abundance of talent in Port Moresby.
“We have a talented group of players with the younger ones coming in and competing and that is keeping the pressure on established players to maintain a high standard.”