Tigers set out for last goal

LAE Tigers have met most of their targets in this year’s Digicel Cup season but they still have one more box to tick, says coach Stanley Tepend.
He said the three-time premiers had aimed for a top two finish which they had accomplished and to make the grand final which they qualified for after besting minor premiers Rabaul Gurias 30-10 over the weekend.
They now have a week off waiting on the result of preliminary final between the Gurias and the Hela Wigmen.
However, Tepend, who is also the Papua New Kumuls assistant coach, said his team needed to tick one more box which was to defend the Digicel Cup title and win an unprecedented fourth grand final in a row.
“Our goal was to finish in the top two and we certainly did that,” he said.
“We wanted to have the advantage of a week off as well as the bonus of having a chance to play again if we lost in semifinal.
“Our next goal was to win the major semifinal and have another week off before the grand final and we have achieved that as well.
“So we’ve tick all boxes but we still have to tick one more box and that is to win the grand final.
“Our focus now is set on that we will be working hard and prepare for that.” Tepend, who is surging for title number four, said his side’s losses to Hela Wigmen and Port Moresby Vipers in lead up to the semifinal had been a motivational factor that drove them in their win over the Gurias.
The Lae Biscuit Company-sponsored side who only entered the country’s semiprofessional rugby league competition in 2011 is one of the most successful franchises in the competition’s history having won three titles (all back to back).