Miok’s fullback Kunai ready for another hit

By THOMAS DILU
ENGA Mioks fullback Robert Kunai is looking forward to another successful season for his team after they won the 2023 Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup grand final at National Football Stadium.
“With just three weeks left before the team heads back to pre-season camp, I feel that my weight has gone up. So I have to keep myself in shape.”
His mother Julie is from Wabag in Enga, while his father Kunai is from Hagen in Western Highlands. Robert regards himself as “an Engan with a Hagen charm”. He is the eldest in a family of three – two boys and a girl.
Representing Enga when winning the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup last year was a happy and proud moment for him and his family.
He grew up at the Eight-Mile Settlement in Port Moresby, and began kicking around the rugby ball as a five-year-old.
In 2020, he played for the Kone Storms in the Port Moresby rugby league competition. It was also during his second year at Pomtech pursuing an Electrical course which he completed in 2021.
He was playing as a fullback in 2021 for Souths which lost to Tarangau in the final. So he joined Royals in 2022 which beat the Dobo Warriors in the PRL final.
“I was playing in the Gerehu off-season rugby league competition with Geewood Vikings in November 2022 when the Mioks called me.
“When I received the call from the club (Mioks), I was so surprised to hear the caller at the other end asking: Are you ready to join the Enga Mioks? Shocking, but certainly grateful news. My response was: Yes.”

“ With just three weeks left before the team heads back to pre-season camp, I feel that my weight has gone up. So I have to keep myself in shape.”

He was so excited that he forgot to tell his parents that he was going to join the team in Enga in February last year.
Mum Julie recalls: “We only knew that he had been recruited by the Enga Mioks when they had their first pre-season playoff with the Hagen Eagles.”
Now 23, he has been trying to maintain his fitness by playing with the Eight-Mile United off-season club.
He wants to keep that No 1 jersey for the Mioks.
“My goal is to climb to the next stage and secure a spot with the Kumuls for the 2024 Prime Minister’s XIII, and then into Hunters.”
He wants to one day play in the NRL and be like his role models James Tedesco (Roosters fullback) and Kylan Ponga (Knights fullback).
“NRL is the biggest stage and my aim is to make it there.”
Enga Mioks coach Billy Gau describes Robert as “very disciplined on and off field, and is really good”, as he improves on his game gradually.
He adds: “About three quarters of the team are made up of boys from the local competitions. We won the grand final last year, but we need to develop these young boys.”
Robert, nicknamed Gunz by his friends, believes that only through hard work, commitment and respect can one taste success.
His message to them is to find a sport where one has potential in, commit oneself to it, and work hard to get to the finishing line.
“You will be surprised to discover how you can excel and move on to higher grounds.”