Muruks Show Promise

Following their gritty 28-20 triumph over the in-form Lae Snax Tigers in Lae on Saturday, May 17th, the PRK Mendi Muruks handed the Tigers their first loss and made a statement, surging to the top of the ladder. 

The Mendi Muruks got off to a flying start in the 2025 Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup, registering five wins, recording a draw, and sitting first on the ladder with 11 points after six rounds. 

In the last couple of years, the Muruks would begin the opening rounds strongly and put the competition on notice but lost their momentum in the middle of the season. 

The Muruks tend to start the season with promise but slack off towards the pointy end of the season. Such has been the story for the Southern Highlands franchise, who bowed out of the preliminary final a few times.  

Whether it’s to do with the attitude of the players, the coaching staff, or the system they have, it leaves a lot to be desired for the PRK-sponsored club, who are married to hope but divorced from reality. 

The Muruks’ glory days go back to 2006 when they made a three-peat (2006-2008) and etched the club’s name into the archives of PNG rugby league. That incredible record is still intact to this day. 

It’s been seventeen years since the PRK-sponsored club last tasted premiership glory. The long premiership drought has compelled the players to come out of their comfort zone, aiming to break the hoodoo this season. 

Coach Roderick Puname emphasized that though the Muruks had flexed their muscles and sent a warning to the competition, he advised the players to stick to the process and play according to their structure. 

“We started our preseason focusing on getting ourselves fit and ready for the first game. Our approach has been to take one game at a time,” Puname said. 

“We have a good mix of youth and experienced players in the squad who are capable of getting positive results for us every weekend.

“Combinations between the players have been clicking after playing together for the last five games (rounds).

“Our focus this year is about winning every single game and making sure we give ourselves every opportunity to make it to the finals and taking it one step further.”

The new competition leaders (Mendi Muruks) will look to extend their winning streak when they host the visiting Asila Waghi Tumbe in round 7 at Lae League Ground on Sunday, May 25th, 2025.