Vikings conquer Bulls to secure Rigo Rice Cup Leg 1 title

In a dramatic Gerehu local derby Grand Final blockbuster, the Geehood Vikings claimed the KCK Rigo Rice Cup Leg 1, Season 2 title, after edging out the determined Gerehu 3 Bulls with a hard-fought 12-8 win on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at Port Moresby’s Bava Park.

The first ten minutes of the game were high with emotions and brutal exchanges as the two sides built momentum to exert their dominance. The Vikings slotted a 2-point penalty conversion outside of the Bulls’ 20-meter line, and the Bulls hit back with a 4-pointer.

After some minutes, the Bulls were penalized for offside, and the Vikings capitalized to cross over the line. The Bulls responded moments later, increasing the physicality of the contest and locking the score at 8 points apiece as they headed into the breather.

In the second half, the Vikings quickly scored within five minutes of play after a swift backline well-executed ball movement, setting the tone for a bruising finish. The Bulls gave everything to upset the Vikings, but the eventual champions defended their line until the final whistle.

Both teams boasted a lot of Paga Panthers’ players from the Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) competition, with a few experienced Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup players, making the decider live up to its billing and leaving the fans on the edge of their seats.

Geehood Vikings’ coach Jeffery Para explained that he had prepared the team over the last two months, crediting the players for their sacrifice and sticking to the game plan, which saw the Gerehu men walk away with the elusive silverware.

“Our hard work for the last two months has paid off. I told the boys to adhere to our game plan without underestimating our opponent. They stuck to our game plan and got the job done, so I am proud of them,” he said.

Coach Para acknowledged the sponsors Willie Ete, Billy Mano, Jason, and others for backing the team over the last two months. He also thanked the players for their sacrifice and commitment, including the support of their families and fans, dedicating the win to the Gerehu community.

The Geehood Vikings took part in the inaugural edition of the KCK Rigo Rice Cup at the back end of 2024 to 2025 and bowed out in the semifinal. However, they regrouped in the second edition to claim the leg 1 bragging rights and set their sights on the lucrative K300,000 prize money. 

In addition, the competition CEO, McSteve Polly, congratulated the Vikings for winning the Rigo Rice Cup Leg 1 challenge and commended the Bulls for a spirited fight. He further congratulated all the participating teams, the coaching staff, team management, and their sponsors. 

The Moni Plus NCDC Port Moresby Vipers coach, Wellington Albert, congratulated the two grand finalists and the participating teams of leg 1, encouraging the players to work hard, stay disciplined, and play consistent footy. Albert scouted a couple of players after the presentation.  

Meanwhile, the 5MK Master Mark pulled off a 16-14 win against the Mono Mutrus Brothers in the third-fourth final playoff. The Vikings pocketed K10,000, the Bulls collected K5,000, and Master Mark settled for K3,000. The top three teams for leg 1 secured their spots in the Major Playoffs scheduled for April.