Muruks hoping to end hoodoo

The National Sports

By PARKER TAMBUA
MENDI Muruks will be hoping to reach their first grand final in nine years when they meet minor premiers Lae Tigers in Sunday’s major semifinal in Port Moresby (1pm kick-off).
Reigning champions Hela Wigmen will face in-form Waghi Tumbe in the do-or-die minor semifinal at the Oil Search National Football Stadium with the winners keeping their title hopes alive.
For the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored Tigers, they have been to four grand finals in the last five years and had won three of those games.
Coach Stanley Tepend’s men will be aiming to reach their third-straight grand final, having met the Wigmen in the 2019 and 2020 deciders.
The Tigers and Muruks finished the regular season first and second respectively in the 12-team competition. They won nine games apiece in the 11-round season.
Tigers only managed to win the minor premiership on the back of their superior point differential. In the last meeting between the two sides, the Muruks won 8-4 in round 10 at the Lae Rugby League Ground.
The Muruks won the game on the back of a dominant performance by their forwards in Ishmael Balkawa, Julius Yakopa, Bernard Goma Jr and Obert Koim.
But their pack are likely to face a tougher battle with the Tigers’ Fijian import Takiko Noke, veteran Roy Kela, Junior Rop and Kitron Laka expected to step up another notch in the finals.
The match-up between both backlines will also be an interesting feature one.
The Muruks have a flashy backline but their only problem has been the link between fullback Dickson Pipi and halves Wesley Batari and Joshia Jimmy.
Muruks coach Roderick Puname had highlighted that many times and he would be hoping for that combination to work well this time, given the significance of this game.
Tigers halves Jamie Mavoko and Mark Tony have been in fine form for Tepend’s side and that’s where their attack will come from.
Fullback Sanny Wabo, centres Roderick Tai and Joshua Lau, and wingers Butler Morris and Anderson Benford are experienced in finals football which will be an advantage for the Tigers.