Kandes focused on consistency despite leading competition

Kandes players in a post-try celebration during their round 9 victory of Mendi Muruks at the Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby *(Image: PNGRFL)*

The Morobe Kandes are refusing to get ahead of themselves despite sitting on top of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup ladder in their debut season.

The Madang-based franchise currently occupies first place with 17 points following the conclusion of round 11 fixtures last weekend.

Guided by former premiership-winning coach Stanley Tepend, the competition newcomers have registered seven wins, three losses, and a draw midway through the 2026 season.

"I think probably a lot of people didn't expect us to be in front halfway through the competition, but credit to the boys," Tepend told NBC News.

"They've just been keeping their heads down, staying grounded, training hard, and performing on weekends. I have no complaints about where we are at the moment.

"But I know that there's still a lot of games left. We will be looking at making sure we are consistent in the second half of the season."

Tepend said one of the key factors driving their current form is their unique location. The former SP Hunters coach revealed that being based in a town heavily dominated by soccer has shielded his players from distractions and kept them focused on rugby league.

Kandes in action during one of their home matches against Enga Mioks *(Image: PNGRFL)*

"It's a blessing to be based in Madang," Tepend said. "I think it's helping the boys to stay grounded. There's not much to do outside of training, and there are only good beaches around, so the boys have been pretty relaxed in between sessions.

"Being based in Madang keeps us out of the spotlight. It's a soccer-dominated town, and we try to make the most out of being in that environment. It's a very controlled camp at the moment, but there's still a lot of tough football to be played."

The former PNG Kumuls mentor also credited the team's flair to the abundance of young talent on their inaugural roster, praising his coaching staff for helping the emerging players adapt to the high intensity of the semi-professional competition.

"There's a lot of younger boys in our team. When you have a young squad, it's important that the energy and the excitement are controlled. Credit must go to my coaching staff, they've done a good job ensuring the boys are well-prepared each week," Tepend said.

Kandes were held to a 16-all draw by the Port Moresby Vipers over the weekend at Ron Albert oval in Madang.

The competition leaders, having previously lost to Central Dabaris in round 2, will look to settle the score against them in the round 12 match scheduled for Port Moresby in a fortnight Sunday.