The Kramer Ausenco Brothers have secured their eight consecutive grand final following a 19-18 win over the Harlequins during the Capital Rugby Union (CRU) Premier Men's Major Semi Final on Saturday, August 31st, 2024, at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.
Geti Raka expressed excitement about the win, saying, "We were not expecting this win. We have been together for years and have trust in our boys and the young players coming up."
Under the coaching of former PNG Pukpuks flyer coach Joe Kautu, the KA-Brothers reached the grand final in 2017 and won the CRU Cup in 2018 against the Harlequins.
They have continued to make consistent progress, defending their titles in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Although they lost the trophy to the Harlequins in 2022, they came back strong in 2023 and reclaimed the title from the reigning premiers (Harlequins).
In the 2024 CRU season, the Brothers dedicated themselves to their pursuit, having an exceptional run throughout the regular rounds of the season, finishing second on the ladder. This marks a significant achievement for the club, highlighting the abilities of the Kautu-led team in maintaining their consistency.
With the grand final spot secured, the Brothers have a reputation and title to protect against the Harlequins or the Valley Hunters in the decider. The Harlies and the Valley men will meet in the preliminary final and the winner will advance to meet the Brothers in the big dance.
The two teams have to polish up their defence and set play structures before they enter the decider. It's going to be a tough task for the Brothers, whether they have a rematch with the Harlequins or the Valley Hunters.
The Harlequins are a strong side known for their supremacy and the Valley Hunters have also proven to be competitive against strong teams after they rose from being the wooden spooners from last year to shock the CRU competition in 2024.
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