Muruks stand up

By KEITH PUARIA
HARDSHIP is a cruel thing, but it has driven the Mendi Muruks to the 2012 Digicel Cup rugby league grand final.
While it has not been a secret throughout the season that the Muruks were not half the team they used to be, yesterday’s 16-8 victory over the Enga Mioks at the Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby, was truly testament of a bunch of men who had come through very trying times together.
This is the Muruks’ second grand final in three years – they lost to the Goroka Lahanis in 2010 in Lae.
“It’s been a struggle all season for us, like kids without a mother,” hooker Charlie Wabo admitted at the end.
“No match payments, coming back together every time we are down, no support, it was hard – na mipla painim motiveisen namel lo mipla yet (and we could only find motivation in ourselves).”
The Kumul No.9 emotionally revealed that the strength to keep going had finally been rewarded, after a season without sponsor Tom Higgins, who had been out of the country for extended periods with illness.
Wing Wessa Tenza sealed the result for the Muruks with a piece of individual brilliance in the 70th minute.
Five-eighth Kewa Kili converting from the ‘netball court’ sidelines, but it was halfback Joshua Molosi’s opening try in the first half that set the platform for their momentum.
Molosi turned proceedings into a contest late into the second half scooping on a loose Mioks pass 10 metres out of his own tryline, and ran 90 metres down-wind untouched for Kili to add the extras for a 6-0 lead.
The high intensity that the match opened with was as expected from both sides, but a high error rate too kept swinging the advantage, both only managing to complete two sets each in the first 30 minutes.
Hard-line work up front by Muruks veteran captain Joseph Omae, Jackson Undi, Robert Nandie, Roy Kela and Werr Mark was equally matched by Mioks David Loko, Steven Talim, Nathan Anjo and Samuel Sok.
The difference at the end however was the direction of ‘Steel’ for the Muruks.
Wabo again created havoc around the rucks giving the Mioks less time to think.
“Unforced errors were crucial for us, and you can’t afford to give an experienced side like Muruks opportunities like that,” Mioks Coach Toksy Nema said.
“Our first and second men plays did not turn out like we worked on, and that cost us. “
Nema gave credit however to the Muruks for making use of their chances.
He acknowledged the Enga Provincial Government and Governor Peter Ipatas, who witnessed the match, and supporters.
“We have a young side, and they will be back next year.”
  The Muruks will return to the capital at the end of the week for Grand Final number seven, of which a previous five were won.
“We’re coming back to do it for our sponsor Higggins,” Wabo said at the end.