Ragi continues trend

 By MELTON PAIS

FOR Agmark Gurias centre John Ragi Jr, rising through the ranks and getting somewhere in rugby league, was a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’.

Ragi has pedigree when it comes to playing the national sport with a father, John Senior, having played for the Gurias in the 1990s and two brothers, Sebulon and Quinton, who are part of the Port Moresby Vipers Digicel Cup franchise.

The 20-year-old John Junior was identified as a development player for the Hunters last year along with another youngster in backrower Nickson Borana.

While Borana went on to make his debut in 2015 and play a handful of games Ragi had to be content with playing under coach Steven Nightingale at the Gurias.

He made every post a winner helping the New Guinea Islands franchise win the 2015 premiership with a 26-18 win over the TNA Simbu Lions at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

Ragi debut for the Gurias last year after being selected from the East New Britain schoolboys rugby league programme.

Ragi, who stands at 170 cm and weighs around 87kg, spent four years his in high school playing in the schoolboys league while at Kokopo Secondary School.

Beaing from a rugby league family jis progress was tracked and as soon as he was ready for senior football it was clear that he was good enough to be considered for a spot on the Gurias roster.

He completed grade 12 last year and has committed to the sport and the Hunters programme.

Like any other talent being given the chance to live and learn from the best in the country, Ragi said he considered it an honour to be included in the Hunters 2016 squad.

“For my name to be listed among Marum’s final 25 was a milestone,” Ragi said.

“From playing schoolboys league to making the Gurias and winning a premiership, I feel that I have reached another milestone,” he said.

But the competition for spots in Marum’s backline will be fierce with incumbents Thompson Teteh, Noel Zeming, Adex Wera and Bland Abavu expected to be the first choice three-quarters in 2016.

That won’t matter because with a leg in the door and injuries and suspensions expected to affect some of the aforementioned stars during the course of the Intrust Super Cup season, Ragi can expect to get some game time.

But he’ll have to convince Marum that he deserves the first call up ahead of Anderson Benford, Justin Olam and Philemon Kimisive – all backs, who will be vying for wing and centre spots.

Ragi said he was excited that made it to the Hunters final squad and he extended his gratitude to the Marum and the selection panel for believing in his potential.

“My father is a former Rabaul Gurias player and he inspired me to play and I know that my success is something he will be proud of,” Ragi said.

“I have to try and make it into the starting line-up and from there I have other goals like playing for the Kumuls and even having a chance in the NRL.”