Boas backs pack, boot

By ISAAC LIRI
AFTER navigating their way through the opening  two Intrust Super Cup rounds of 2017, PNG Hunters captain Ase Boas says his side are very much a work in progress.
With their next assignment taking on the Souths Logan Magpies at Davies Park in Brisbane on Sunday, Boas credited his forwards  for laying the foundation for their opening victories over the CQ Capras and Easts Tigers.
“I think our pack really stepped up and got us on the front foot  and enabled us to get off to a good start scoring those three tries in the first half,” Boas said.
Indeed the Hunters first three try-scorers were all forwards: lock Stanton Albert (4th min), prop Henry Wan (22nd min) and second-rower David Loko (30th min).
“Our forwards have been doing some speed training over the week which is quite similar to the backs training, and I think it’s been  good for them because they get around the park well.
“They are switched on get the calls right as well as running good lines and hit the gaps. Hopefully, we see more of that on Sunday,” the 28-year-old said.
Boas said getting a good start was key to wrestling a win over the Magpies but that would all depend on the teams ability to  roll as a unit and maintain the focus for the 80 minutes especially in the second half of the games.
“We lost concentration in the middle and the ending of the game and we are working towards that and hopefully we can see changes this weekend.
“Little things like dropped balls and giving away silly penalties have cost us over the last two games so leading into this weekend’s game we really need to polish up on those areas.”
Boas admitted that there were  still gelling as a team and combinations would take time to develop.
“We need to quickly fill the gaps left by players like Justin Olam (Melbourne Storm), Thompson Teteh (Redcliffe Dolphins) and Noel Zeming (retirement).
Goal kicking was another significant part of the game, which Boas said he wanted to improve on.
“Goal kicking is a crucial part of the game and to be honest, I struggled in the first games with a 50 percent strike rate (3/6). But I’ve worked on that area at training and I need to just practice more to get better,” Boas said.
The halfback admitted that despite improving in Round 2 last week where he kicked five goals from six attempts, he was still annoyed about missing an easy penalty goal.
“I felt horrible after missing an easy penalty last week because the two points would have mattered if we didn’t score again.”
Boas is backed up by substitute goal kickers in Israel Eliab, Silas Gahuna and Bland Abavu, but he was determined to improve and keep the kicking tee.