Church bank on halves

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE SP Hunters are pinning their hopes on playmakers Jamie Mavoko, Mark Tony, Judah Rimbu and Solomon Pokari to lead their attack in the 2022 HostPlus Cup (formerly Queensland Intrust Super Cup) season.
Coach Matthew Church said yesterday that the four players had formed combinations for their respective Digicel Cup sides, Lae Tigers and Hela Wigmen, in the past two seasons.
Mavoko and Tony steered the Tigers to the premiership this year Rimbu and Pokari did the same in 2020 before they joined the Hunters for the 2021 season.
Church said he would find a workable combination between the four players. “We brought in Mavoko and Tony, who did well to lead the Tigers to the Digicel Cup grand final and win,” he said.
“So Jamie and Mark have that in-built combination from the Tigers, so we are looking to build on that.
“We also have Pokari and Rimbu who are the 2020 premiership-winning halves, so we’ve got a good combination there too.
“We just have to look at what fits the Hunters and who suits the way we want to play.”
Meanwhile, Edwin Ipape is still in contention for a playmaking role.
The former Tiger made his Hostplus Cup debut in the 2021 season.
The three-Test Papua New Guinea Kumuls utility is expected to play a key role in the Hunters’ spine.