Tigers ready for Fiji champs

By JACK AMI
LAE Tigers coach Stanley Tepend says the Digicel Cup champions are finalising preparations for Saturday’s Melanesian Cup clash with the Ravoravo Rabbitohs at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji (2pm kick-off, PNG time).
He told The National that despite the loss of Joe Joshua, Charlie Simon, Junior Rop and Mark Piti to the SP Hunters, the new faces in the side were stepping up at training.
“We’re doing fine with the existing players and new faces we have,” Tepend said of his Tigers, who are the Melanesian Cup holders.
“We started with block fitness and strength building in first month and now we’re transitioning to speed and a short, power-building phase.
“We will pick 19 players from our squad and focus on the Melanesia Cup throughout the week. We hop to do well and come away with a win.
“Then our focus will go back on Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (PNGNRLC) Digicel Cup as there will be still some time before kick off to polish little areas.
“We plan to have one trial match next month before the Digicel Cup kicks off in April. All in all, our progress has been going good.
“Our Tigers players in the Hunters have not been released for the Fiji trip so they won’t come with us.”
Tepend said he was excited to see rookie prop Sylvester Namo and halfback Nathan Milli suit up for the Rabbitohs clash.
“From the 2019 premiership team, we have 80 per cent of the players still here with us,” he said.
“We’re focused on the Digicel Cup and this trip is a good opportunity for us to bond and have a good hit-out before we resume preparations for our title defence.
“We are lucky to have this concept which was put in place a few years ago by the sport’s national governing bodies of both countries to reward the winners of the two competitions.
“It also gives our boys a good learning experience to visit another country, especially Fiji.
“It’s a beautiful place and the people are very friendly. Our younger players can really get a lot out of this trip apart from rugby league.
“It’s going to be a tough Digicel Cup season as every team will lift.”
PNGNRLC manager Stanley Hondina says last year’s runners-up Hela Wigmen will travel to Fiji at their own expense to face the Kaiviti Silktails at 12pm.
Tigers: 1. Sonny Wabo, 2. Enoch Sine, 3. Jokedi Bire, 4. Roderick Tai, 5. Anderson Benford, 6. Mark Tony
7. Nathan Milli, 8. Roy Kela, 9. Noel Joel, 10. Sylvester Namo, 11. Butler Morris, 12. Tiger Emeri, 13. Ishmael Balkawa, 14. Weser Tenza, 15. Joejoe Wallamas, 16. John Andy, 17. Cedric Maima, 18. Joshua Lau, 19. Nicky Aure.