Muruks face Tigers

LAE Tigers and Mendi Muruks will be aiming for victories as the winner of Sunday’s top-of-the-table Digicel Cup clash will be in the box seat for the minor premiership.
Both teams are on 16 points but ladder leaders Tigers, who will host the round-10 match at the Lae Rugby League Ground (3pm kick-off), have a superior points differential.
Unlike the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored Tigers, the Muruks have a tougher run home as they face giant-slaying Moni Plus Port Moresby Vipers in the final round next weekend.
The Tigers have a date with 11th-placed Kimbe Cutters in the final round, so a win on Sunday will almost certainly wrap up the minor premiership for coach Stanley Tepend’s men.
The Tigers and Muruks are accustomed to winning in 2021, having each lost just one match – against the Vipers and Goroka Lahanis respectively – since the start of the season.
The hosts will be counting on their big, mobile forwards in Fijian Takiko Noke, Roy Kela, Casey Dickson, Junior Rop and former Hela Wigman Kitron Laka.
The Muruks’ pack will be led by former Lae Tiger Ismael Balkawa, former Prime Minister’s 13 skipper Bernard Goma Jr, Obert Koim and 2021 breakout star Nelson Yei.
Both teams have a solid pack and the result could come down to their backlines.
Muruks captain Wesa Tenza – a former Tiger – will be dangerous out of dummy-half, but the Tigers also have the services of Prime Minister’s 13 hooker Noel Joel.
Muruks coach Roderick Puname had earlier said that the Tigers clash would influence his side’s approach to the finals.
Tepend had also said earlier that every match would be tough with teams stepping up towards the business end of the season.
Fixtures: Sat, Aug 7 — Gurias v Vipers (Kokopo); Sun, Aug 8 — Tumbe v Lahanis (Minj), Tigers v Muruks (Lae), Mioks v Wigmen (Wabag), Dabaris v Cutters, Isou v Eagles (Port Moresby).