Gurias veteran makes comeback after breaking jaw last year

By MICHAEL PHILIP
THE Rabaul Gurias have secured the services of utility and senior player John Ragi Jnr for the 2024 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup season.
Ragi broke his jaw during preseason last year which sidelined him for the whole season.
His return this year adds more responsibilities on his shoulders as an experienced campaigner in the squad together with Konnie Bernard and Daniel Pai.
“I am really happy, excited to be back with the team this season. It’s a relief for me,” Ragi told The National about his return to the game,“I picked up that injury last year and it did disturb my career causing me not to play the whole of last season. I am now fully fit and happy to be back running with the boys.
“I used to play five-eight and centre but for this year due to my weight I was moved into the lock position. I played last weekend it was my first game playing lock. I love to be there. Bernard, Pai and myself are the oldest and experienced players in the team. We will be leading the boys this year with our captain Wesley Batari.
“Majority of our boys are inexperienced and it’s a big challenge for us ahead this season.
“My aim for this year is to make the team every week. I am working hard on my runs. It’s my first time in the middle against big forwards. We are all aiming for the grand final this year, we are not big but we are fast.”
Ragi grew up in a rugby league family with his dad John Snr a former Guria, and both his brothers Sebulon and Quinton played for Port Moresby Vipers and Gurias.
He began his rugby journey in 2011, taking part in a junior rugby league programme while doing Grade 8 as a 15-yeard-old at Kokopo Primary School.
He impressed national selectors in 2011 and was scouted into the junior Kumuls Under-14 side in 2012 and U18 team in 2014.
Ragi was a member of the national nines team in 2014 and played in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
The 27-year-old West New Briton was identified as a development player for the SP PNG Hunters in 2015 while doing Grade 12 at Kokopo Secondary School.
In that year, he made his Digicel Cup debut with the Gurias after being selected from East New Britain’s schoolboys’ rugby league programme.
Ragi made his maiden grand final appearance in the Gurias’ 26-18 win over Chimbu Lions at the Sir John Guise Stadium during the 2015 season.
Then in 2017, he made his second grand final appearance where they lost to heavy weights Lae Tigers.