Rabaul Guria Lepan hangs up his boots

By MICHAEL PHILIP
RABAUL Gurias forward Tuvi Lepan will no longer be seen wearing the No.11 jersey for the Agmark-sponsored side in the coming Digicel Cup season after he decided to retire from the game.

The 32-year-old made the decision to call time on a great career which had been hampered by a re-occurring knee injury over the last three seasons.
“I have a lot of great memories playing in the Digicel Cup competition as well as representing my country and I am happy to at least have achieved something great,” Lepan said.
“My decision to retire has come about because of my knee injury that I have been facing for the last three years.
“Not only that, but also my age.”
The East New Briton said even though he wouldn’t be playing, he would still be involved with the club as a mentor and trainer.
Lepan said he was ready help teach and groom the new talents who were venturing into rugby league in the province.
“I am here free to assist and give back to my team what I’ve learned in training our young guns the skills in rugby league,” the back-rower said.
Lepan’s rugby league journey was not an easy one as he was not the biggest forward despite his height; he had to work hard to get noticed by selectors.
In 2014, the Warangoi Storm junior was scouted during the annual Agmark Nines rugby league tournament at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo playing for the Sunny Bird Wildcats.
He joined the Gurias’ train-on squad for the 2015 season.
“Everyone playing in the town competition had the dream to one day represent our province and play for our provincial team, Rabaul Gurias,” Lepan said.
“But it is very tough to make the squad because we have a lot of young talents.
“I was fortunate to transition from my junior club to Wildcats before being picked up by the Gurias in 2015.”
In 2015, Lepan made a breakthrough as the best forward in the Gurias’ 2015 Digicel Cup title-winning campaign after they beat TNA Simbu Lions 26-18.
They then claimed the 2015 Melanesian Cup with a win over Fiji’s Vodafone Cup champions Sabeto Roosters.
After spending a year with the Gurias as a front-rower, the Matupit and Baai native was picked by the SP Hunters for the 2016 Queensland Intrust Super Cup season.
He made his Hunters debut against New South Wales Cup team Penrith Panthers and then faced Wynnum Manly Seagulls at the BMD Kougari Oval in Brisbane.
Lepan was a reliable contributor to the Hunters pack in 2016 with his high work rate and agility.
His performance and efforts for the Hunters saw him rewarded with selection into the PNG Prime Minister’s 13 to play the Australian PM’s 13 at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
“While playing in the town competition in Rabaul, I always dreamt of wearing the red, gold and black jersey of the country,” Lepan said.
“In 2017, I made it and that was a memorable moment despite the loss to Australia.”
Lepan attributed his successes to self-discipline, dedication and commitment in terms of training, learning from coaches and looking after his body.
In 2018, Lepan was released from the Hunters after suffering his first major knee injury.
He recovered but chose to stay with the Gurias in the Digicel Cup rather than try to make it back to the Hunters.
The one-time PNG PM’s 13 representative played his last Digicel Cup game on Aug 15, in a playoff fixture against eventual runners-up Waghi Tumbe at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.
The Gurias went down to the Jiwaka side 8-18, but Lepan was grateful for having played one last finals match.
“I’ve achieved my rugby league dreams and I am pretty sure it’s time up for me to make way for young, talented players,” he said.
“It has been a privilege to play for this champion team.
“Without the support of the franchise and our fans, I would not have made it this far.
“I thank Warangoi Storm for helping launch my rugby league career.
“I also thank Tomaringa Royals, Paveks Butterflies and Jack Timi Jr for sponsoring the Wildcats, where I was selected to join the Gurias.
“To my friends and family, thanks for your support.”