Premiership-winning skipper Tony backs Lae Tigers

DIGICEL Cup premiership-winning captain Mark Tony is confident his former employers, Lae Tigers, will maintain their standard despite the exit of veteran coach Stanley Tepend and seven players, including him.
Tepend is now the assistant coach of the SP Hunters.
The Tigers members of the Hunters train-on squad are Tony, Jamie Mavoko, Sherwin Tanabi, Sanny Wabo, Kitron Laka, Casey Dickson and Roderick Tai.
Hunters coach Matthew Church announced recently that he wanted to recruit another Tiger, Joshua Lau, as a replacement for the sacked Edwin Ipape.
Tony told The National last week that the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored side had a strong culture.
“If most Tigers players in the Hunters train-on squad make Church’s final group then I don’t think it will make much difference to the Tigers.
“I believe the new Tigers players can take the team forward.
“I know they will have a new coach with Tepend joining the Hunters.
“But there will be challenges.
“It will be tough, but I trust the culture and the systems at the Tigers.
“The Tigers have a great academy programme and there are plenty of talented players who want to be a Tiger.
“The younger players have been waiting for their opportunity and the departure of more players to Hunters will provide them that chance.
“I am sure the new players know the Tigers standards. The culture there will make them better players. When you have better players, you have a very good team, so I trust the Tigers will pick up from where they left off last season.”