Boas set for UK return

Kumuls star to play his last game for Hunters on Sunday

By PATRICIA KEAMO
SP Hunters halfback Watson Boas says he will leave for the United Kingdom next week to re-join Doncaster for the final season of his two-year deal with the Betfred League One club.
The Papua New Guinea international has been training and playing with the SP Hunters in the Queensland Intrust Super Cup (ISC) after an agreement between coach Matthew Church and Doncaster chief executive Carl Hall.
This arrangement was made to keep Boas fit and give him a solid preparation for the upcoming season in the third-tier competition after travel restrictions had delayed his return early this year.
Boas told The National yesterday that he was looking forward to re-joining Doncaster.
“Due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions last year, I couldn’t return to England,” the 26-year-old said.
“But they (Doncaster) honoured my contract and paid me while I was in PNG.
“So to honour my part of the contract, I’ll go back and complete my term and see what next year holds for me.
“The season starts next month so I’m really looking forward to re-joining my club and teammates for the upcoming season.”
When asked about how his teammates would react to his departure after four rounds in the ISC season, Boas said he was confident that the third-placed Hunters were heading in the right direction with their new crop of players.
“I believe young Judah Rimbu will step up and lead when I’m gone,” he said. “He had some game time over the last four rounds and I’ve been talking to him during training, so I think he will lead the players well in the halves.
“There are also international players like Edwin Ipape and Wartovo Puara Jr in the team, so we have an abundance of playmakers which is good for our attack.”
Meanwhile, according to totalrl.com, Hall expects Boas to be fit for Doncaster’s opening clash with the Keighley Cougars on May 9.
“He’ll probably play his last match with the Hunters this weekend and then we’ll look at getting him on the next flight back here,” he said.
Hall also confirmed that Boas would remain as the club’s first-choice five-eighth despite him being handed squad No.24.