Lahanis or Muruks?

HIGHLANDERS will take Lae by storm this Sunday for the bemobile Cup grand final.
Hundreds of people from the Southern and Eastern Highlands will be arriving in Lae by the bus loads at the Lae Rugby League grounds to barrack for their provincial teams, the SBS Mendi Muruks and the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis, in what sets out to be an electrictifying atmosphere.
This is an even match- up with both sides peaking at the right time of the season and playing at a high level during the qualifying finals.
Lahanis have shown their quality beating last year’s grand finalists the Mioks and the Gurias in successive weeks.
Since Sept 22 the Nokondi men have recorded wins over the top teams in the competition and this time they take on a full strength  Muruks at the flightless birds’ adopted home ground in Lae.
However, whether it is home ground or away, the Lahanis are unfazed over such thinking as they just want to clear the final hurdle in order to lift the bemobile Cup trophy.
“We have come the very hard way, we have cleared all hurdles towards this ultimate challenge and we will not let anything stop us from achieving our aim,” Lahanis team manager  Joe Isaro declared, while repeating his earlier call for the same support the Lahanis recieved last week from fans.
“We know we will not let our sponsors and supporters down.”
 Despite being minor premiers and also booking the first grand final spot, the Muruks are very much intact with none of their players being selected into the PNG Kumuls currently in Australia for the Four Nations Series.
In stark contrast, the Lahanis will sorely miss  inspirational skipper Glen Nami and head coach Peter Danga, both of whom are with the Kumuls.
Nami’s wide running and typical ball handling feats and Danga’s tactical on-field calls during crucial times would pose as some psychological disadvantages on the Lahanis.
However, earlier in the week Isaro and Lahanis board chairman and franchise owner Simon Sia said there was a possibility of rushing the two men back for the game.
However, if that did not materialise they are optimistic that the absence of the two men will not deter the Lahanis from continuing their impressive form after four straight wins over star-studded teams like Rabaul Gurias, Enga Mioks and Port Moresby Vipers.
Muruks franchise owner Tom Higgins said he would not make any early predictions and comments before the game but wished his team the best.
Muruks who have been consistent throug-out the season, bagging the minor premiership, will like nothing better to add the icing on the cake to another solid season.
Under the sponsorship of SBS predecessor Mabey&Johnson, the Muruks  rewrote the history of the semi-professional competition by winning three successive grand finals from 2006 to 2008 before they bowed out in the semi-finals last year. The Southern highlanders are back now to make it a fourth victory under SBS.
But, Lahanis a former glamour team which once had big name players like late Tuiyo Evei, current Kumuls coach Stanley Gene, Halifax prop Makali Aziue and many other Apos, have made a hot late run.
Bintangor as their sponsor has no regrets even they when they lost in the semi-final last year. They have improved this year and made Eastern Highlands proud.
Lahanis, surged from the fifth spot and pipped SNS Vipers in the elimination final before they upset Toyota Mioks and continued their winning streak to beat Agmark Gurias last weekend.
Both finalists are equally matched with the style in running the ball in defensive and attack.
Muruks have young Kewa Kili, Ate Bina Wabo, Roderick Puname, Wesley Benny, Bobby Yakopa and Elijah Anton. Captain Joseph Omae will have forwards of Jackson Undi, Roy Kela, Andrew Baine, Nobert Kembo and no nonsense hit man Hobert Hondale who will be instrumental.
If Lahanis’ captain Glen Nami takes the field, he will be helped by the experienced Nigel Hukukla, Nicko Ublie, John Milba, and Tony Dai.
Coach Peter Danga will bet on his backliners Chris Hogi, Thompson Tete, Joseph Peter and Walter Hasu to execute the game plan.
But, it will be the team that makes less errors and plays disciplined football that will eventually take the cup to their province.