Wigmen to stake claim

By JOHN PANGKATANA

THEY may just be into the second season of the Digicel Cup but the Hela Wigmen are not premiership pretenders.

The Kemele Construction/HGDC-sponsored franchise have sounded an early warning that they are not in the country’s premier rugby league competition

just to make up the numbers.

With the Mendi-based team coming

off the back of consecutive losses, stand-in coach Andrew Andiki yesterday

said the Wigmen were keen to vent their frustration on the Agmark Gurias in Kokopo on Sunday.

“They (Gurias) are a classy side, especially

at home ground, but nothing is impossible and with the top eight set for next week we need to win to boost our confidence,” Andiki said.

Andiki said they had been working hard on their discipline as they had been giving away too many penalties. He said mistakes were contributing to a poor completion rate.

He confirmed that experienced hand in Joseph Omai would be rested but was confident that their engine room which includes former Kumul forwards George Moni and Samuel Sok would terrorise the Gurias front-line.  

Wigmen board chairman Andy Hetra said the Kokopo match would be a litmus test for his side to gauge just how finals-ready they were. 

“There is no test better than playing the Gurias at their Kalabond graveyard,” Hetra said.

The Gurias are getting back to form at the right time and should give their supporters another treat with their flamboyant game led by skipper Travis Waninara and former Kumul prop Rodney Pora.

In the other matches, Lae is set for another blockbuster with the SNS Port Moresby Vipers set to take on on minor premiers Lae Snax Tigers while in Mount Hagen, the PRK Mendi Muruks will look to playmakers Stanly Olo and Joshua Molsi to steer them against the Enga Mioks. Wigmen: Ramsy Paul, Jeremy Ludwig, David Lapua, Oliver Kerry (c), Johnson Awija, Charlie Wabo, William Mone, Samuel Sok, Weza Tenza, George Moni, Steven Mark, Andrew Ipi, Felix Tangue. Reserves: Mckenzie Buka, Raymond Tia, Mexie Kapia,  Michael Mapu.