I’m still trying to get into form: Eliab

By ISAAC LIRI
ALTHOUGH the PNG Hunters are sitting fifth on the Q-Cup ladder with three wins and a loss, some players are still facing their demons.
Former skipper Israel Eliab, pictured, admits that he is struggling to reach the form he once displayed when he was named five-eighth of the year in the Q-Cup in consecutive seasons (2014 and 2015).
“To be honest I am still trying to get back to the form I had before,” Eliab said.
The 26-year-old attributed his struggles to various factors such as playing out of position last year with the London Broncos, and the tussle of solidifying playing combinations with current teammates.
“Another factor might be that the boys I usually played with in the past are no longer here. Some players play well with combinations, so I think it all comes back to me, how I prepare myself mentality and physically,’ Eliab said.
“Our combinations are a work in progress and I don’t think it will take long for us to get used to each other, probably we need three to four games again to fix things.
“Hopefully we get Wartovo Puara back in the side. He’s a smart player around the ruck. I played well with him before and the back-rower I am used to playing with is Brandy Peter.”
Despite his reasoning, Eliab said it was not an excuse as he continued to build new combinations with hooker Gahuna Silas and second-rowers Lawrence Tu’u and Nixon Put.
“My goal this year is to give my 100 per cent best with the Hunters and I’ll let my performance speak for itself,” Eliab said.
Like any other Papua New Guinea rugby league player, Eliab has an eye a Kumul jumper in the coming Test match against Cook Islands in May and the Rugby League World Cup at the end of this year.
But before he looks at being named in the Kumuls, which he captained in 2015, Eliab knows that he will have to impress national coach Michael Marum and selectors considering his sub-par form since coming back from England.
“It’s not going to be easy and I know right now I am just taking one game at a time with the Hunters.
“If I do well I think I’ll tick the boxes and hopefully be included in the Kumuls team this year,” Eliab said.