Kone storm to win PRL 9s

By FRANKLYN KOLMA
PLUCKED from the Port Moresby Suburban rugby league competition, Flame Kone Storms surprised the other 24 teams by claiming the Port Moresby Rugby League Super 9s cup and the K3,000 prizemoney yesterday.
Thanks to Digicel PNG Ltd, all players involved also walked away with mobile phones.
Chairman of the Port Moresby Rugby League Labi Amaiu thanked Digicel PNG for the gesture that had boosted the players’ morale and ended the Super 9s on a high note.
“Digicel PNG, in conjunction with PRL, have ensured the games have been completed successfully and I take this opportunity to thank Digicel for making this event possible and successful,” Amaiu said.
The cup grand final between the Storms and Dobo Warriors was an entertaining final yesterday with Storm winning 16-8.
Storms based in Konedobu have earned a reputation as a rugby league nursery producing competitive teams in the nation’s capital.
Their impressive performances not just in winning the PRL Super 9s final but throughout the four-day tournament had given league in the town area of Port Moresby another boost.
Since their inclusion in the PRL in 2009 by former board chairman Solomon Ravu, Storms had made every post a winner exposing many of their talented players at the PRL level.
The team had no big-name players but their fast-paced game and high intensity style ensured they would always trouble any opposition.
Storms beat established PRL club Warriors which boasted PNG Kumul fullback Joshaia Abavu, simply by playing hard and fast.
Warriors riding on their impressive 10-8 win against an in-form Port Moresby Butterflies dominated by current Mendi Muruks players could not sustain their strong form and faded against the Storms.
Storms walked away smiling with K3,000 in cash while Warriors settled for the K1,500 runner-up prize.
In the plate finals, Hanuabada Hawks Green led by little general Edea Morea beat last year’s champions Kawaso Defence Gold 26-16 to bag K700 while Defence settled with K350.
In the bowl playoff, new kids on the block, the Seven Mile Jets beat the fancied Hekari Tarangau 22-18 to grab the K500 prizemoney while the warders settled for K250.