Albert back for Hunters

By ISAAC LIRI
PNG Kumuls prop Stanton Albert is set to make his return with the SP PNG Hunters off the bench on Sunday against the Townsville Blackhawks.
Coach Michael Marum said Albert passed a fitness test last week and is expected to play a vital role for the pack in their round 12 match against the second-placed Blackhawks. Like all former Hunters who return to the side, the 22-year-old was happy to wear the club colours again in the Q-Cup.
“I am really happy to be back to play with Hunters and my mates,” Albert said.
“It was really cold in the UK while training with the Widnes Vikings but it’s good to be back at home. I am enjoying the warm weather.
“I don’t feel a lot of pressure coming back to join the Hunters, it’s my home team and I’m just really happy to make the team for this weekend’s game.
“I only played one game with Widnes Vikings. There’s no big reasons for leaving the Vikings, I just didn’t have enough game time and stuff like that so I decided to come back home.
“I know the Hunters didn’t start well because there were a lot of new boys in the side and they had to work on their combinations, but I think the boys have found some good form now after two wins and I hope that joining them will help as well.
“The boys are happy to have me back, to have some experience up the middle. I’m going to take one game at a time and play my part as a member of the pack.
“I think Enoch (Maki) has done well as senior forward. He’s been leading the new guys like Dilbert Isaac and the McKenzie Yei.”
Albert said it was hard for him to leave his brother Wellington, pictured, at Widnes and return home but he had to make a decision based on what was good for him as a player.
“It’s my first time to leave Wellington like that because we’ve been playing in the same team for most of the last four years and it was emotional for me to separate but at the end of the day we’re men and we make our own decisions,” Albert said.
“He (Wellington) just told me that there would be some critics but just to look forward to playing and to stay out of the media and stuff like that.”
Meanwhile, Marum made one change in the starting side with the exciting Edene Gabbie replacing Butler Morris on the right wing.
“Edene Gabbie comes into the starting team to replace Butler Morris who moves back to the extended bench,” Marum said.
“Butler has struggled defensively over the last two matches and I’ve spoken to him about that. “It’s not only Butler, Willie’s (Minoga) defence is a concern as well but again Willie can play several other positions so its key to have him in the team.
“Patrick Morea also comes in off the bench after playing in the Digicel Cup last weekend and he can cover for the backs and forwards there.
“The Blackhawks have a big backline. Last week we faced a side (Capras) with a big backline and we struggled in that area so that’s something we have to handle again.
“The Blackhawks have had a good start to the year unlike us with six wins on the road, so we will have to improve our defence if we are to beat them.
“Our kicking game (goal kicking) last week was an area we need to improve on and Ase (Boas) didn’t train well during the week because of a right ankle injury but hopefully he’s good for the weekend.”
Prop Yei also returns from a two-game suspension and was named on the extended bench.
Sunday’s match will be for the annual Air Niugini Cup which the Hunters won last year.
SP Hunters: 1. Adex Wera 2. Junior Rau 3. Thompson Teteh 4. Willie Minoga 5. Edene Gabbie 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Enoch Maki 9. Wartovo Puara Jr 10. Dilbert Isaac 11. Nixon Put 12. Ila Alu 13. Rhadley Brawa; Reserves: 14. Gahuna Silas 15. Baundo Aba 16. Patrick Morea 17. Stanton Albert 18. William Mone 19. Butler Morris 20. McKenzie Yei.