Wabo, Mark in Vipers squad for Digicel Cup

By JOHN PANGKATANA
THE pride of the nation’s capital – the Stop & Shop Port Moresby Vipers – with a strong PNG Residents XIII flavour has been named to compete in rugby league’s Digicel Cup.
The Vipers could not have asked for a better season to prove themselves than during a World Cup year.
With most of the players earmarked for the Kumuls training camp in Lae this week, it should give Vipers coach Shane Morris something positive to work on before the April 14 opener.
The Vipers have to yet to deliver to their full potential.
The inclusion of Mendi Muruks henchmen Charlie Wabo, pictured left, and Michael Mark, pictured right, may strengthen their resolve.
The Vipers were finalised after a gruelling three months of training, fitness and performance evaluations under Morris.
Morris believes the Port Mores­by-based side is ready for the challenge ahead and expressed enthusiasm about the team’s pro­spects.
“As coaches, we aim to select players who strive to win games and I believe the Vipers have the right mix of size, strength and ball-running finesse to do just that,” he said. “With the players confirmed and out of the way, we, as a playing group, can now focus on getting our game plan right and play good footy.”
Vipers squad: Josiah A­­­ba­vu, Gary Lo, Richard Kam­bo, Tobby Kapi, Michael Mark, Peter Paulus, Israel Eliab, En­­och Maki, Charlie Wabo, Samuel Koim, Larsen Marabe, Sebastian Pandia, Bobby Mori, Sebulon Ragi Jnr, Dickson Nap, Stanley Torato, Adam Korave, Timothy Lomai, Robert Nandi, Jolam Jerry, Elijah Riyong, Lawrence Kuso Jnr, John Jerry, Phoenix Puri, Steven Johns, Henry Wan, Gahuna Silas.
The assistant coach is Paul Komboi.
The trainers are Solomon Kuliniasi and Arua Moide.
Competition starts on April 14.