Tigers to run players at Snax 9s, out to ID talent

By LARRY ANDREW
THE Snax Nines in Lae will involve 20 teams to the Lae Rugby League Oval today to participate in the three days event.
Eight teams are from Mt Hagen fielding (two teams), Goroka, Kainantu (2), Madang, Maprik and Rabaul with the rest from Lae.
Tournament director and Lae Tigers coach Stanley Tepend said players from Digicel Cup franchises were expected to feature over the three-day event.
“All current Lae Tigers players are expected to play as this is the only tournament used to confirm spots for pre-season training,” Tepend said.
The Snax nines kicks off at 8am with teams to play five games in their pool over the two days with the finals on Saturday.
The top three from each pool advance to the playoffs.
According to Tepend the Snax 9s champions will win K10,000, the runners-up get K6000, third place K4000 and fourth place K2000.
The player of the tournament gets K500.
Tepend said the organisers would give each team biscuits and sausages (5kg) per day including lunch plus strapping tape and a rugby ball.
“We hope to get some new players and also to the players that will make the Tigers pre-season training squad.”
The Tigers are expected to start their training on Jan 5.
“With the 2019 Tigers Academy players are expected to make nearly half the training squad.
“We expect to lose five to six of our players to Hunters and overseas clubs and some players will be release to go as we look to improve on our performances from this year,” Tepend said.
Tepend thanked sponsors Lae Biscuit Company, Prima Smallgoods, Winstar, Seeto Kui, Hawkeye Security, Beacon Consultants and Coca Cola Amitil for jumping onto the bandwagon to support Snax Nines Challenge.