The rejuvenated SWG Valley Hunters are eager to face the formidable Kramer Ausenco Brothers in the 2024 Pepsi Moni Plus Capital Rugby Union (CRU) Grand Final, when they lock horns and battle for supremacy on Saturday, September 21st, at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
This grand final promises to light up the state-of-the-art stadium in the nation’s capital, as staunch rugby union fans flood the spiritual home ground of rugby league to watch the two grand finalists rise to the occasion and showcase their skills, and entertain the crowd.
From wooden spooners in 2023 to premiership contenders in 2024, the incredible rise of the Valley Hunters has been nothing short of amazing to watch under the guidance of coach Frank Genia, Will Genia and other stalwarts of the club.
The battled-hardened Brothers have been dominating the CRU competition for a very long time, making their eight straight grand final appearance and proving their premiership credentials every season. The brethren will look to solidify their stacked resume when they go head-to-head with the resurgent valley men on Saturday.
The Hunters did not start strong but picked up their rhythm in the middle of the season, and maintained it all the way to the big dance. They were the only team to beat the two premiership heavyweights, in the likes of Brothers and Harlequins, sending a warning to the competition.
With the premiership trophy on the line, the Joe Kautu-coached men will leave everything on the pitch in trying to defend their title, while the SWG Enterprise-backed team are looking to stun the juggernauts of the CRU competition and make history for themselves, aiming to bag their maiden trophy since 2008.
Interestingly, the Brothers will celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary at the end of this season. With the upcoming milestone for one of the pioneer clubs (Brothers) within the PNG rugby union circle, the men in black will undoubtedly put their bodies on the line to cap off their season on a very good night.
Conversely, the Hunters are also chasing history as they endeavor to break the premiership hoodoo for the club, who have yet to win a title in the CRU competition. The stakes are higher for both the Hunters and Brothers, as winning the coveted premiership trophy will be very significant for their respective clubs.
As the clock ticks down to D-Day, both teams are working on their final touches in preparation to launch themselves onto the battlefield and vie for the prized silverware. The Kramer Ausenco Brothers will be banking on their wealth of experience to retain their title, while the SWG Enterprise Valley Hunters lack finals experience but they must stick to what they’ve done the whole season, if they want to pull off an upset and claim their first title after sixteen years. It’s the battle of favorites and underdogs.
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