Following a one-week recess, the Minor Premiers Wamp Nga Mount Hagen Eagles are refreshed and energised to meet the determined Kroton Hela Wigmen in the 2024 Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup Grand Final slated for Sunday, September 15th, at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The Eagles’ meteoric rise from cellar-dwellers to premiership contenders has been nothing short of amazing to watch this season. They came on a mission and stamped their authority, claiming the Minor Premiership and are now setting their sights on the coveted title.
The Wamp Nga-sponsored franchise's last grand final appearance was in 2008 against the PRK Mendi Muruks, where they lost to the Muruks. Incumbent Eagles coach Francis Ray was the captain that year. Sixteen years later, coach Ray resurrected the sleeping Eagles and steered them to their first decider since 2008.
“It’s a big achievement for me personally. Being a player myself in 2008 as a captain, I took the boys (Eagles) to the grand final against the Muruks and we lost. Coming back as a coach and being in the grand final again with the Eagles, it’s a big achievement so I’m really happy,” Ray said.
Led by battled-hardened prop Henry Wan, the Francis Ray-coached men learned from their hapless season in 2023 and had a strong showing this season, putting the competition on notice. Though Wan is a seasoned campaigner, this will be his first time to play in the grand final, including a few players in the pack.
Coach Ray reflected on their 2024 season and his coaching career, saying that he still could not believe the Eagles would play in the grand final, especially after being written off by everyone, given the fact that they were the wooden spooners.
“Firstly, I would like to thank the Lord above for the great season that I had with the Eagles. Being a team that sat at the bottom of the table for so many years, this season was a good year for us,” Ray emphasized.
“I’ve been with the Gurias for the last three years and learnt a lot. Being a professional club (Gurias) at the semi-professional competition has helped me as a coach, and I’m very grateful for my time with the Gurias.
“Coming back to the Eagles, it was a tough year for us but I had to bring in the new players into the team, along with the local players under the leadership of Henry Wan, it made my job easier.
“Starting the season back in April, nobody thought we were going to make it to the grand final or pick up the minor premiership, but we proved everyone wrong.
“To be in the grand final, it’s a dream come true. I’ve taken the Gurias to the grand final in 2022 against the Wigmen, and this is my second grand final appearance with the Eagles. Our preparation has been good and we look forward to playing the Wigmen on Sunday.”
On the flip side, the Wigmen have had a roller-coaster season. They were inconsistent and haven’t shown their premiership credentials. However, from nowhere, they hit their straps running at the backend of the regular season and secured a top-6 finish.
Despite struggling to win games in the middle of the season, the Kroton-backed team have a couple of experienced players who have what it takes to make their presence known in the big moments, such as captain Solomon Pokare, Manu Kame, Woods Kawage, Tapia Solu, to name a few.
Against all odds, the flamboyant Wigmen used their experience and pushed their way into the finals. The Hela men thrive when they are being underestimated and regarded as underdogs. They surprised the competition a few years ago and stole the limelight, so this year is no exception.
Led by veteran trainer-turned coach Ian Yaro, the rookie mentor weathered the storm, brushed aside the criticism, and stirred the 17-strong Wigmen warriors to their sixth grand final in ten seasons.
“Obviously, we are going to take the grand final seriously against the Eagles. We’ve been there for a number of years. We respect our opposition, they are a quality side. We are just going to put on our best performance come Sunday,” coach Yaro said.
“It’s been a challenging year for me and the team. Although we started slowly, we found our groove at the end of the regular season. Transitioning from a trainer to a coaching role has been a challenging but exciting experience.”
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