Tigers’ Gebbie still out

By ROBINSON LEKA
LAE Tiger Edene Gebbie is still at least two weeks away from making his club debut as the former South Sydney Rabbitoh continues to recover from illness, says coach Stanley Tepend.
Prior to round one of the Digicel Cup, franchise owner Ian Chow said the Papua New Guinea Kumuls speedster would be fit for round two.
However, Tepend left the 25-year-old out of his 17 in Sunday’s 40-10 round-two win over the Central Dabaris at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.
“Gebbie is probably another two weeks away,” he said after the match.
“He was sick so he lost a lot of fluids in his body.
“He wasn’t right for this game and he probably won’t be fit next week.”
Meanwhile, Tepend said despite the addition of star playmaker Edwin Ipape, he would stick with starting halves Charlie Simon and Mark Tony after a perfect start to their title defence.
“At the moment, we’re just easing Ipape in as it is just the start of season,” he said.
“We’re playing him off the bench as an interchange rake when fatigue kicks in.
“He’s learnt a lot overseas so we’ll eventually devise a plan for him.
“We’ll stick with Simon and Tony as our halves, and rake Noel Joel in our starting side just to ensure some stability.
“The combination is working well for us and I think it will be the same next week.”
The second-placed Tigers face ladder leaders Rabaul Gurias in round three at the Lae Rugby League Ground in the Morobe capital on Sunday.