Wigmen eyeing third title

HELA Wigmen will be aiming for a third premiership win when they face Rabaul Gurias in the Digicel Cup grand final at Santos National Football Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
This will be the second time the two teams meet in a grand final. They first met in the 2014 decider at the Lae Rugby League Oval where the Kroton-sponsored Wigmen won 34-8.
For the Agmark-sponsored Gurias, they will be out to break their seven-year title drought. This will be the Gurias’ 15th grand final appearance and they will be aiming to claim their seventh title.
The Wigmen have been to three grand finals since their inception in 2011 and have won two of them.
Wigmen coach Seth Rip told The National yesterday that Gurias had the experience and class but his men would take the field with a lot confidence.
“It’s only two years since we last won the premiership in 2020 and the core of the players that was part of that premiership winning side are still in the team,” Rip said this week.
“Gurias have the experience and class but we also know what it takes to win premiership,” Rip said.
“What really matters is how you turn up on the day and on that 80 minutes in the field so our boys are very confident.
“There are no injuries after last week’s game against the Muruks. The only change in the team is Patrick Morea who will return to the side replacing Ikiboi Lawrence.
“Otherwise we will maintain the same side that beat the Muruks.”
The Gurias had a week-off after beating Muruks 16-14 in the major semifinal a fortnight ago.
The Francis Ray-coached side will have the class of former Kumul Ase Boas and Saki Peter in the halves. Former SP Hunters Joe Frank and Edward Goma are in the centers and Steve Bruno and Francis Takai will be leading their pack.
Wigmen also have a mobile forward pack led by captain Valentine Culligan, Samuel Yegip and Manu Kame.