Decider will be competitive, Tsaka says

PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka said the Digicel Cup grand final between the Enga Mioks and Goroka Lahanis would a competitive game.
He commended both teams Mioks and Lahanis for staying on top of the table over the 18 rounds of the regular season.
“You have your own success story as to how both you have paved your way up to where you are now,” Tsaka told the coaches and captains.
“Mioks, who had a good start, won their first seven games, drew to Gurias in round 11, had some scrappy wins over the remaining matches but still managed to stay on top of the standings and secure the minor premiership. And then they won one game to make the final.
“For the Lahanis, they sis it harder by coming from lower down the ladder. They have strived hard regardless of their poor start in the season,” he said.
Lahanis coach Glen Nami said his side had their turning point after round 11 and had put 10 straight wins together, the last of which was a gutsy 10-6 win over the Waghi Tumbe in a tough preliminary final last Sunday.
Tsaka commended PNGNRCL heads Adrian Chow and manager Stanley Hondina for running the Digicel Cup successfully this season.
“This 2018 season was different from the past seasons and it has dawned on us that rugby league in PNG is turning a corner and that’s something to be proud of,” Tsaka said.
PNGNRC administrator Hondina thanked the 10 teams for completing the 18 rounds of the regular season and the top five for giving fans an exciting finals series.
He congratulated the Mioks and Lahanis for making it all the way to the grand final spot.