Gurias determined

By PARKER TAMBUA
and ROBINSON LEKA
RABAUL Gurias are eager to reach the finals of Papua New Guinea’s premier inter-city rugby league competition for the 23rd-straight time with a win over Enga Mioks tomorrow (2pm kick-off).
Anything less than a win over the sixth-placed Mioks in the final round of the regular season at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo, East New Britain, will see the Agmark-sponsored hosts miss the top-six finals mark. The Gurias and Mioks share the same competition points heading into the do-or-die clash with the loser to bow out of title contention.
But should the clash at Kalabond end in a draw and Mt Hagen Eagles beat Central Dabaris in Minj tomorrow (2pm), the Western Highlanders will snatch the last finals berth with the top-five already confirmed.
Prop Andickson Yamason backed his seventh-placed Gurias to get the job done despite them dropping out of the top-six following their home loss to Port Moresby Vipers last week.
“We are confident and we want to get a win especially after losing to the Vipers,” he told The National earlier this week.
“It’s our home ground and we don’t want to lose another match this season.
“Our strength is our pack. We definitely have a good pack who have been digging deep all season.
“We have great outside backs too.
“I think if our spine clicks into gear, we will be hard to beat.”
Meanwhile, Mioks coach Thomas Neah said his side had already reached their target of climbing out of the bottom spot which they had occupied a month ago.
“We’ve avoided the wooden spoon,” he said.
“Our defence against Hela Wigmen last week was exposed a few times, so we’ll be concentrating on that area.
“It’s going to be a huge task but we’re looking forward to playing the Gurias.”