By GABRIEL KATUHO
PRK Mendi Muruks coach Roderick Puname has thanked the PNG National Rugby League and his club’s sponsors for a successful 2025 season, which will culminate with the grand final on Sunday.
As the Southern Highlands team prepares to do battle with Lae Snax Tigers, Puname commended his players for their tireless pursuit of the premiership.
Muruks lost to the Tigers in their grand final qualifying match on August 31 but made amends by ousting Rabaul Gurias in the preliminary final to have another crack at the pride of Lae City.
“The last grand final Muruks played was in 2012. It has been a long time coming for the club but in saying that, we still have one more game to go so we remain calm and focused on Sunday,” Puname stated.
Puname also sponsor, PRK, for supporting the club over the past 13 years, resulting in Mendi Muruks reaching the grand final this year.
Whilst all the focus is on the Sunday showdown at the Santos National Football Stadium, Puname urged his players to be mindful of illegal play as the match review committee will closely watching the game.
“To be on the same side making sure the boys don’t do anything unethical on the field. In saying that it is the last match of the year now so cannot ask the boys to hold back now, just go out there and do what the boys could do,” he said.
Muruks’ captain Mark Tonny said this would be the first grand final for most of his players but there were several experienced players who were ready to feast on Snax Tigers.
Meanwhile, experienced Tigers’ coach Noel Zeming is confident his team will deliver the desired result on Sunday. Despite losing several players to the PNG Hunters, Zeming said the Tigers have proven they are still a force to be reckoned.
He said they had a mixture of young and experienced players, who would stand up to the challenge the Highlanders.
“We have some of our young players who have played in grand finals so it is a good mix in the team. We expect to have a good game on Sunday,” Zeming said.