Amean ready for the finals hunt

PAPUA New Guinea Hunters fullback Stargroth Amean may have left the Jack Manski Oval early in last week’s 24-16 win over the Townsville Blackhawks but there is no denying his importance to his team’s fortunes.
Simply put, a healthy Amean means the Hunters have one of their best strike weapons and a man who is one 100 per cent committed to the cause.
The 26-year-old’s commitment to that cause was proven in the 24th minute of the game in Townsville when in attempting to defuse a dangerous bomb he landed heavily and was concussed.
Worryingly this was not the first time the dynamic Engan had thrown self-preservation out the window by putting the team first and paying a price.
But Amean is unlikely to alter his approach since it has paid dividends and for a footballer who explains his at times kamikaze style as “body blo state, putim lo line”, it will not change.
A key member of the Hunters spine with his try scoring ability, fearless kick returns and sound defence and the only facet of Amean’s game underdeveloped is to play that linking role when required.
“I think I’m playing some of my best football right now but I can’t take all the credit because I belong to a team,” Amean said in the lead up to the Blackhawks game.
“I have built a good combination with the Boas brothers in the halves and Wartovo (Puara) at hooker.
“We’ve been communicating so well lately and it has helped me to come out and perform to my best ability.
“Our forward pack also does the hard yards and sets up that foundation, so I think at the moment we’re playing well as a team,” he said.
Exciting as he is every time he touches the ball, Amean revealed that he always sets individual goals during a game. “One of goals during a game is to remain focused and relaxed. Not to think about the whole 80 minutes but to think about the first set and what’s currently happening. “Cutting down on ball handling errors is another goal which I set individually every time I step into the field,” Amean added.
With two more games remaining Amean says the team goal is to focus on day to day preparations and not think much about the minor premiership or the premiership.
“I think this competition is unpredictable but we are in a better position to secure the minor premiership.  “Right now our biggest goal in camp is to focus on our day to day training and prepare for each game.
“I think that sometimes when you look ahead and forget about the task in front you lose concentration on the little things in front of you.
“At this point our coaching stuff is doing everything to get us to concentrate on the present rather than the future.
“I think that sometimes big things can takes care of itself when we focus on the little things so that is basically what we are doing.”