PNG Digicel ExonMobil Cup : Muruks And Gurias Ready For A Grand Final Showdown

There is nowhere left to hide for the PRK Mendi Muruks and East New Britain Agmark Gurias. This afternoon, the two foundation clubs of Papua New Guinea rugby league will walk onto the Santos National Football Stadium field knowing that an entire season of hard work will be judged over 80 minutes. The 2026 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup grand final is not simply another fixture — it is a battle for the national title, provincial pride and a place in the history of the competition.

The rivalry carries considerable history. The Muruks and Gurias have previously met in three grand finals — in 1996, 2007 and 2012 — with the Gurias winning the most recent decider between the two sides in 2012. Fourteen years later, they are back on the biggest stage, giving today's contest the feel of a rivalry that has been waiting to be renewed.

PNG Digicel ExonMobil Cup : Muruks And Gurias Ready For A Grand Final Showdown/Photo PNGRLF

For the Muruks, there is unfinished business. They reached last year's grand final but failed to claim the premiership, and coach Roderick Puname has made no secret of using that disappointment as motivation. This year they finished the regular season as minor premiers and then held off Kandes 18-14 to secure their place in a second consecutive grand final. The question now is whether they have learned enough from last year's failure to finish the job this time.

But the Gurias have not arrived at the grand final by accident. Their road to the decider has demanded resilience, particularly in their 20-18 preliminary-final victory over Kandes. They were pushed hard and had to withstand a second-half fightback before their experience finally prevailed. Captain Terry Wapi and the Gurias' senior players showed the composure required in finals football, while younger players have also stepped up when the pressure was greatest.

That is where today's contest becomes particularly intriguing. The Muruks have the momentum of another grand-final appearance and the hunger of a side that does not want to suffer another heartbreaking defeat. The Gurias, meanwhile, have the confidence of a team that has already survived a series of pressure games. Neither side can afford to rely on reputation. Discipline, possession, defensive commitment and decision-making under pressure will determine who holds the trophy when the final whistle sounds.

The intensity is expected to extend beyond the field, with supporters from both camps turning the grand final into a major provincial occasion. But passion must not cross the line into violence or intimidation. Police have already warned supporters to behave and respect one another, stressing that only one team can win and that the final result must be accepted.

So now the waiting is over. The Muruks want redemption, the Gurias want to add another chapter to their proud grand-final history, and neither side will want to leave the field wondering what might have been. This is what Papua New Guinea rugby league is about — rivalry, pride, passion and the pursuit of one trophy. **May the best team win, and when the final whistle blows, all fans must respect the players, respect the opposition and accept the result.