We’re not safe yet, says Marum

THE SP PNG Hunters spot in the finals is not secure and coach Michael Marum says they have to win in Rockhampton on Saturday as a loss could allow the Ipswich Jets to leapfrog them into sixth place.
Speaking after his side’s 40-16 win over Wynnum Manly at the Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday, Marum said the Hunters were not looking ahead to the finals because their fate would depend on their round 24 fixture against the Central Queensland Capras at Browne Park.
“We are not there yet. We have to beat the Capras on Saturday night. There are no guarantees for us because Ipswich are right behind us and if we lose and they win, we’ll miss out,” Marum said.
“We’re taking it one game at a time but we know we can’t take it easy.”
The equation is simple for the defending Intrust Super Cup champions heading into the final round of the regular season — they must win to be safe.
With the Jets in seventh place on 26 points and the Hunters in sixth on 28 points, a loss by the Hunters and a win for the Ipswich men, who face the Norths Devils in Brisbane, would see them snatch the last finals spot.
The Hunters have a for-and-against points differential of +42 while the Jets have a +41 so little separates the sides.
If the Hunters and Jets lose their games this weekend then the Hunters will advance to the playoffs.
A draw will be good enough for the Hunters to get to the finals.
The Hunters have been in great form of late having won six games in a row including away wins against Souths Logan and Tweed Heads and despite taking on the second last side in the Capras, Marum was frank in his assessment of the task at hand for his side.
“They (Capras) beat the Devils so they won’t be easy,” Marum said.
“We’re getting better and we showed we can win on the road. I was impressed with the way the side played.
“I thought Charlie Simon did well coming in at halfback and some of the boys adjusted to the positions we asked them to play,” Marum said.
“Our halves have shown skill and managed games well for us and we’ll need them to continue that.”
The race for the minor premiership is between first-placed Redcliffe Dolphins (33 pts) and No.2 Burleigh Bears (32 pts) while the Townsville Blackhawks, who are in third, could finish second at best with a win over Wynnum Manly.
The Hunters could improve to fifth spot if they win and the fifth-placed Northern Pride (28 pts) lose to Tweed Heads.
If the Hunters qualify for the finals in sixth spot they face the third-placed finisher, either the Blackhawks or the Bears, in the first week of the finals.
If the Hunters finish in fifth spot then they play the Easts Tigers in week one of the finals.
The Hunters will play their first finals game away.