Morobe Pride Eyeing Rigo Rice Cup Top Prize

After almost four months of intense competition between eighty-plus teams vying for the inaugural KCK Rigo Rice Cup, the stage is now set for a double-header Semifinal showdown on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.

The Rigo Rice Cup is one week away from witnessing its first-ever champions as the four finalists - Morobe Pride, Mono Mutrus Brothers, SS Dolphins, and Talai Spartans - lock heads and battle for supremacy. The Brothers, Dolphins, and Spartans are Port Moresby-based teams, while the Pride are the solo team from Morobe’s capital, Lae. 

Representing Lae City and competing in the Rigo Rice Cup comes with its expectations and challenges. The Pride have proven that they did not come to the nation’s capital to make up the numbers, but they are here to claim the coveted trophy. 

It has not been an easy ride for the Pride, who have sacrificed their time to stay in Port Moresby for three months. Despite those hurdles, they have weathered the storm and delivered clinical performances, ultimately claiming the Leg 3 title and advancing to the finals to fight for the grand prize.

The ‘Rainy Lae’ lads, as Morobe is affectionately known, are 80 minutes away from reaching the big dance, hoping to walk away with the prized silverware. They’ve flexed their muscles and put the competition on notice, aiming to end their campaign on a high note with a championship.

Morobe Pride coach, Keary Tapako, stressed that the team preparation leading up to the semifinal clash on Sunday (June 1) had been good, with the players building on team chemistry and cohesiveness.

“Our preparation is steaming up and the boys are giving their 100 percent in every training session. Every session is intense and physical,” Tapako said.

“Our main focus towards the semis is discipline, putting the team first, and respecting each other on and off the field. We need to cut down on errors and build good communication. 

“I expect the boys not just to play for a win, but also play their hearts out for themselves, their families, the people of Morobe, and our sponsor, Jacob Maragau.” 

Reaching the semi-finals means a lot to the players, with coach Tapako saying, “It’s a massive feeling and rewarding as well. We’ve come a long way this far. Three months is quite a long time for an off-season team like us.

“To have patience, discipline, and sacrifice is another thing. It’s not been easy for us, but I am extremely proud of my boys. 

“Our hard work has paid off by making the final 4, and it’s not the end because we still have a long waiting dream, which is to play in the grand final.”

The Morobe Pride have a couple of seasoned campaigners, featuring both rugby league and rugby union players. They have strike weapons across the park, with influential playmaker Jacky Winas running the show.  

The other three contenders (Dolphins, Brothers, & Spartans) will also be hungrier to stake their claim for the grand prize money of K300,000, but the Morobe Pride remain resolute and optimistic about their mission.

Meanwhile, the Morobe Pride will face the Talai Spartans, while the Mono Mutrus Brothers go head-to-head with the SS Dolphins in Sunday's double-header blockbuster at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.