Lahanis locked on Mioks’ ouster

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Staff Reporters

BINTANGOR Goroka Lahanis are confident of ending Toyota Mioks’ surge for the season’s grand final this Sunday in the preliminary final of the bemobile Cup competition.
The winners of this clash will meet NGIP Agmark Guria in the decider.
Even losing Kumuls duo Sigfred Gande and Glen Nami to the Residents PNG Kumuls, Lahanis coach and master tactician Peter Danga is highly confident his boys would prevail over the Mioks.
Danga said his camp was injury free and his players were raring to go with all guns blazing on Sunday to prove to the Mioks that the Lahanis’ 13-8 win over the Mioks in Lae a fortnight ago, was no fluke.
He further explained that their 24-25 extra time loss to the Guria last Sunday had psychologically bolstered their preparation for this weekend’s sudden death blockbuster with the Mioks.
Despite the Mioks’ defeating the star-studded Masta Mak City Rangers in Lae last Sunday, Danga believed that his players had the depth and class to outplay the Enga side. He said the Lahanis would simply stick to their normal game plan and not try anything fancy.
“We will stick to our normal game and play a relaxed game; no fancy stuff or anything like that because we know that it is a do-or-die game,” Danga said.
Menacing tackler Limu Willie and utility George Abba have been brought from the bench into the starting 13 in place of Gande and Nami, while Bernard Warlock and hitman Douglas Uyassi join the bench.
Skipper Nigel Hukula and John Milba form a formidable front row combination to prop up hooker Walter Hasu, while Wesley Wiseman will lock the scrum.
The backline has the class of players like Garnet Auwo, Kevin Inagafa, Monaho Goso, Adex Wera, Thompson Tete, Casey Frank, Bafinuc Ilai and Gainda Metia to match the Mioks.
Meanwhile, Mioks will be also missing the services of their key play maker Mai Tom and rampaging forward Kerry Tapako as they have also been called away to Mt Hagen to tackle the Xcess Telikom International Kumuls.
The pride of Enga Province will now bank on their ever green five-eighth James Meninga and Mossie Lam to defeat the Apos, with the ever reliable support from their hardworking forward David Ako.
It will be the battle of the forwards David Ako taking on Nigel Hukula to see who will meet the Gurias in grandfinals two weeks from now.
Mioks coach Toksy Nema could not be contacted for details yesterday; however, it is obvious that Nema’s magical feats in reading and understanding their opponents’ weaknesses and strengths would provide an impetus for the Mioks.
The pride of Enga province will now bank on their evergreen five-eighth James Meninga and Mossie Lam to trouble the Apos, with ever reliable support from hardworking forward David Ako.
It will be the battle of the forwards  – David Ako taking on Nigel Hukula – to see who will meet the Guria in grand final.