Rookies take on ruffled Eagles

By KEITH PUARIA
A’ARON Paul and Kuni Minga will remember Rebiamul Oval, Mt Hagen for as long as their rugby league careers will take them.
The 19-year-old duo will make their debuts for Digicel Cup 2012 newcomers’ TNA Lions this Sunday up the Highlands Highway.
Franchise chairman Gerard Philip told The National from Kundiawa last night that the team had been preparing as best they possibly could with the fresh talent they had recruited.
Hooker Paul and Minga at centre are only two of the nine debutants in the Chimbu franchise.
“Training has been consistent, the boys have been improving, but it could possibly take the next three weeks for them to find their feet in this big competition,” Philip declared.
“There is excitement all over the province.
“Brand new team, young and the best players from all over the province and the local competitions, so yeah, there is definitely a lot of excitement”
The rugby league-mad township of Kundiawa is holding its breath for the entrance of their new home team, after the return and departure of the Warriors last season.
Lions’ quiet preparations and lead up to Sunday’s round two clash, however, was gi­ven the extra pump for hype after hosts Mt Hagen Eagles lost 20-12 to the Agmark Gurias in week one away in Kokopo.
Philip admitted that the players and coaching staff were aware of the strength the Eagles would have muscled up after the Kokopo loss, but that it was not something they parti­cularly looked at combating.
“We’re just looking at building one game at a time, and focused only on what we have to do to be a better team come the business end of the season,” he said.
The Lions also carry experienced personnel in captain Esau Siune, Andrew Sipil, Sonny Daing, Kupsy Isaac, Willie Eguambo, Radley Brawa, Supa Takai and Saku More, who are not new to the intercity scene.
The Eagles on the other hand have quietly stayed out of reach during the week after the Kokopo game.
With a definite intention to prevent two straight losses, Rebiamul Oval will be a preying eagle’s hunting ground this Sunday.