Church upbeat despite delay

By PARKER TAMBUA
SP Hunters coach Matthew Church says the delay by the Queensland Health Department over the team’s quarantine application will not affect their campaign as they still have ample time to prepare for round one of the Intrust Super Cup (ISC).
The 2017 champions were initially scheduled to relocate to the Gold Coast last Sunday.
Church told The National on Friday that the 14-day hotel quarantine as required by the Queensland Government was not ideal for their training programme.
However, the Australian said the situation would steel his players for their March 20 opener against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
“The quarantine process has the potential to affect the team’s progress but only if we let it,” Church said.
“Potentially, being in a room alone for 14 days is not ideal for our programme.
“But we can harness this as a way to strengthen our mental resolve heading into the season.
“We will be the only team in the Intrust Super Cup to have to go through this, just another example of the sacrifices our players and staff are willing to make to play in the ISC this season.”
The former Sunshine Coast Falcons assistant coach said the team would continue to train at the Oil Search National Football Stadium this week while the tentative date of travel was rescheduled to Sunday.
“Should we get approval to leave on Feb 7,” Church said. “We will then get out of isolation and have four full weeks before round one.
“While it will be an amended pre-season schedule, we can use this as motivation towards doing our best for Papua New Guinea.
“Hopefully, at this stage, it is only the seven-day delay and we get approval from the Queensland Health Department to enter the state.”