Tepend looking to recruit players from nines tourney

THE Lae Tigers will be using this week’s Snax Nines rugby league tournament to identify and recruit new players after the Digicel Cup club fell short of retaining the title last season.
Up 14-10 in the grand final at Port Moresby’s Sir John Guise Stadium earlier this year, the Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored Tigers were four minutes away from claiming a fourth title when a brilliant individual effort by Hela Wigmen prop Samuel Yegip ended their reign.
Coach Stanley Tepend said he was looking to recruit “fresh faces” and release some of the players who had been with the Tigers over the last few years.
“This is a great opportunity,” the former Papua New Guinea Kumul said ahead of the three-day tournament which kicks off today.
“We’re grateful to the companies that have assisted us and the teams that will compete in the tournament.
“Teams are coming from as far as Kagua-Erave, Kimbe, Rabaul, Enga and Tambul.
“Lae teams, including back-to-back winners Aca Ropens, will also compete in the tournament.”
Tepend said more than 70 per cent of the Tigers rosters had been recruited from the tournament since its 2014 inception.
“SP Hunters squad members Sylvester Namo and Jokadi Bire were recruited from the tournament,” he said.
The premiership-winning coach said teams were allowed three Digicel Cup players on the field at any one time, with two on the interchange bench.
The Kumuls assistant coach said the restriction would create an equal playing field for all the 32 teams, especially those from the rural areas.