Paga riled at missing out on Ipatas Cup

 THE non-inclusion of Port Moresby club Paga Panthers in this year’s Ipatas Cup rugby league challenge is a major blow towards the selection of their players in this year’s Enga Mioks franchise.

The Panthers club has had a strong relationship with the Mioks as a feeder club.

However with the Panthers not meeting requirements to participate this year, several of their players chances of playing in this year’s Digicel Cup nationwide semi-professional competition has been hampered.

Cup chief executive officer Timothy Lepa yesterday confirmed that it was unfortunate but they had to maintain their mandate that a requirement of playing for the Mioks franchise is to play in the Ipatas Cup.

“Paga did not meet the requirements set and therefore have not been included amongst the 12 slots that will see clubs put in four pools, of which two pools will be for the rural teams,” Lepa said.

“This will give a chance for a rural team to advance to the gold pass stage,” he said.

Lepa who is also the Mioks coach said the relationship with the Panthers club could affect the signing up of key players in Steven Tali, Paul Kambi and Charlie Simon.

 “Our other Paga Panthers recruit in Roger Laka is with the SP PNG Hunters preparing for the Intrust Super Cup,” Lepa added.

“We also had our eye on three to four development players to come through this season, which is unfortunate,” he said.

He said the departure of several of their big guns in David Loko, Essau Siune and Tiger Emery to the Hunters is already a huge loss to the Mioks’ 2014 preparations.

The southern leg is confirmed for February 7-9.