The unbeaten Titikaveka Bulldogs are looking to extend their winning streak to three matches when they take on the Tupapa Panthers in week three of the Rarotonga League 13s competition this afternoon.

Cook Islands Rugby League competition coordinator Francis (Franky) Toa says the Bulldogs are not a team to be underestimated in the weekly domestic rugby league competition.

The Panthers, the former premier men’s champions, cannot afford to be complacent despite playing the Bulldogs at their home ground, Victoria Park in Tupapa.

The Bulldogs defeated Arorangi Bears 22-20 and Takuvaine Warriors 48-10 in their first two matches.

The Panthers have also won their first matches against Ngatangiia Matavera Sea Eagles 28-12 and the Bears 12-8.

“The Bulldogs, I believe they can’t be underestimated in the game. They have been hard at training, under the guidance of their coach, Mark Tuaati,” Toa said.

“I do believe, however, the weather is going to have a deciding role in this game … weather always changes the elements of the game.”

Toa said the Bulldogs were laced with some good players, especially in their backline, which is led by the Akava brothers, Tony and Brian, supported by their captain Timothy Tangirere and veteran players with good ball distribution skills.

She said the Bulldogs have grown from strength to strength and “it is hard to say anything about the team as they produce something new on the ground every week”.

The Panthers also have a strong backline spearheaded by Papua New Guinean Mafu Kalas and a solid forward pack led by Jason Potoru and skipper Eric Newbigging.

The remaining premier men’s clashes will be held tomorrow. The winless Sea Eagles and the Warriors will battle at 3.30pm followed by the feature clash between the defending champions, the unbeaten Avatiu Nikao Eels and the Bears.

Meanwhile, the junior development rugby league programme will enter its second week on Saturday and will feature before the premier matches.

Toa said they have had some positive numbers in terms of the turnout through the games.

“I think we can only build up from there. We’ve seen a lot of positive promotion around junior development, starting from the beginning of this year, with the team coming from Australia.”

Toa said that in the long run, she would like to see the numbers in each club grow with their own set of players.

“At this moment, you do have some clubs with big numbers and then some with smaller numbers. And that’s the purpose of this whole junior development programme, to work around the numbers that we have within each club and build the skill set that the children have.”

With the U10, U8 and U6 programme starting at 9.20am every Saturday, Toa says they need help from the general public. Anyone who is free, available and has time on Saturday is welcome to lend a hand and assist officials.

“Rugby league is a game for all of us to enjoy, it’s not just for the players to enjoy while playing, but it’s also for our entertainment. And I guess if we can all lend help towards rugby league, we’ll all be enjoying being a part of it.”

Toa said they were monitoring the weather, following heavy rain yesterday, and would confirm today whether there would be a change of venue for this weekend’s matches.

Fixtures

Bears vs Eels 5pm, Sea Eagles vs TKV Warriors 3.30pm, Mix 1 Red vs Mix 2 Blue- 2.45pm; U19 Eels vs Sea Eagles 1.30pm, U16 Bears vs Eels 12.20pm and U14 Bears vs Eels 11.20am, Junior development starts at 9.20- at Raemaru Park, Arorangi.