Morobe Pride to Meet SS Dolphins in Rigo Rice Cup Decider

After six months of fierce competition between 84-plus teams vying for the inaugural KCK Rigo Rice Cup, the Morobe Pride and South Side Dolphins survived the elimination, booking their spots in the Grand Final.

The 84-plus teams that participated in the Rigo Rice Cup are all Port Moresby-based, except Morobe Pride and Hagen United. The Hagen United bowed out in the elimination final while the Morobe Pride reached the big dance.   

In the double-header semi-final fixtures held yesterday (June 1) at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, the South Side Dolphins pulled off a 10-8 victory over the Mono Mutrus Brothers, and the Morobe Pride edged the Talai Spartans with a 14-10 win. 

With everything to play for, the SS Dolphins and Mono Mutrus Brothers put their bodies on the line in the opening blockbuster. The Dolphins put the Brothers under the pump with two tries, taking a comfortable 10-0 lead at half-time. 

The Kings of Ipi Park (Brothers) rebounded in the second half and kept the South Side men at bay, scoring two unconverted tries. However, the Bagelo Solien-coached outfit managed to secure a hard-fought 10-8 win over the brethren.

As anticipated, the Morobe Pride and Talai Spartans also delivered an entertaining and slugfest contest, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats. A physical and intense first half saw the Pride take an 8-6 lead.

The match reached its climax in the second spell as the players emptied their tanks and went full throttle on the field with no self-preservation, but the ‘Rainy Lae’ lads held their resolve to beat the Spartans in a dramatic grandstand finish.

Representing Lae city, the Morobe Pride are on a mission to clinch the coveted trophy, while the SS Dolphins are also setting their sights on claiming the bragging rights. In a high-stakes decider, make no mistake that it will be a mouthwatering showdown between the Morobean men and the South Side lads as they lock heads and battle for supremacy. 

Meanwhile, with a grand prize money of K300,000 up for grabs - the champions will walk away with K200,000, the runners-up will receive K60,000, and the third-placed team will scoop K40,000 - making Rigo Rice Cup the biggest grassroots competition in PNG, especially in terms of cash prize, and the sport of rugby league is concerned.