Mioks flying high – The National

DIGICEL ExxonMobil Cup ladder-leaders Enga Mioks are looking to bank their sixth win in Goroka on Sunday but will have to contend with a home side that is building in confidence.
The Bintangor Lahanis will roll out the welcome mat for the Mioks in the round six fixture of pool A at the National Sports Institute (NSI).
The Enga government-sponsored have put together a perfect run so far after five games while the NSI has been hostile territory for visiting teams, the Mioks are flying high in form and confidence.
The Lahanis are coming off their first victory of the season after starting the season with three draws and a loss.
They beat the struggling Mt Hagen Eagles 32-10 at NSI and are keen to shoot down the soaring Mioks.
The home side’s playmaking combination of Jethro John and Joseph Karara in the halves and Manu Alfred at hooker is building into some form while the side’s back three of Douglas Tandaku, who debuted last week, at fullback, and gun wingers Sefa Dait and Amos Kafare are expected to have continue their strong individual forms.
Mioks five-eighth Gary James’ combination with halfback Francis Sam has worked well so far and found ways to deliver the side plays when needed with their calmness and composure perhaps their biggest strength. That quality will face it sternest test in the NSI cauldron.
The Billy Gau-coached Mioks outfit will be without star forward Seal Kalo, who was named in the SP PNG Hunters squad that travels to Brisbane today (Friday) to play the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Hostplus Cup round 10 match tomorrow.
However, Enga has enough hungry, rugged forwards in their roster who will fill in for Kalo adequately and the men in green and gold will led by veteran Supa Kokote and Junior Talin.
In other matches, the undefeated Lae Tigers will look to maintain their spot in the top-two as they take on Kimbe Cutters at Lae Rugby League Ground on Sunday.
Up the northern coastline in Wewak, the Sepik Pride are desperate to stay in touch with the top sides in their pool B when they host Port Moresby Vipers tomorrow at Poro Oval.
Cellar dwellers Mt Hagen Eagles have yet to win a game in 2023 and it won’t get any easier against the in-form Mendi Muruks as part of a double-header in Lae.