Don’t lose faith, we will start winning

Hello SP Hunters fans and supporters! Welcome to the 4th edition of Coach’s Corner in our official newspaper – The National.
Firstly, I contacted Bob Kebaja and his team last Wednesday following his interest to lead devotion was published in the Hunters Forum page. We are grateful to them for leading and sharing last Thursday’s team devotion. Thank you and we hope to have you back sometime during the year!
Those persons and groups who’d like to be part of this can email to the Hunters Forum address below.
Secondly, I value the responses – good and bad – to this column. The players and staff read this newspaper and they learn the thoughts of the supporters.
The following should put some perspective to those comments.
Let me share some thoughts and challenges we face which should answer the common question everyone’s asking – “What is happening to the SP Hunters?”
When this column started three weeks ago, I expressed what my coaching staff and I had been working on. Patience and keeping faith in the team was the first as we go through the processes of getting the basics right. Secondly, I shared the values we have which have proven successful. Last week I expressed that we were heading in the right direction. The process may be slow but the outcome will be best for all.
Over the past five rounds, 13 players have debuted this season. Joe Frank will become the 14th debutant on Saturday. That’s quite a high turn-over of players and the first quarter of the season is almost done.
The Queensland Intrust Super Cup is the second tier to the world’s best rugby league competition – National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia. These players did not get into their respective ISC teams overnight. They have been through the processes and challenges to get to this level. So it is and will always be a struggle to get a team together to the opposition’s levels.
Our players give their best. But they are outsmarted and out played by these fringe NRL players. We lack consistency to keep going with the momentum and our discipline, at times, is poor. This all comes with experience on the field. Our players have a good game one week and then a bad one the next. There is no consistency.
The current squad is the best we have out of the Digicel Cup competition in 2018. I coach to get the potential out of each player and the strengths of the team. There is no overnight solution and we will keep working hard on this process for the best outcomes.
We won the minor and major premiership in our fourth year of participation. Last year’s premiers Redcliffe Dolphins won their first game of this season by a field goal in Round 4. Some of the teams in the competition haven’t won a title yet after decades of participating.
This Saturday we face the Central Queensland Capras, the team that beat us in the last round in 2018 and denied us a spot in top six.
We play the Capras in Emerald ( 270km west of Rockhampton) at 6.30pm and return home the next day.
We have played Capras eight times since 2014 with six wins (one away) and two losses both away.
Not a bad record. We have created a record with five consecutive losses since 2014 including the first two rounds this year where we didn’t score a point. Let’s see if we can break this losing record.
Those players that were disciplined for misbehaviour and not respecting the Hunters cultures and values have admitted their wrongdoings. We have accepted their apologies and the trust and respect amongst us is high in camp.
The first round of the Digicel Cup competition went well with no dramas. Well done to all the winners.
The coaching and referees trainer’s sessions run by Dwayne McKay of NRL last week was fruitful. Congratulations to those that attended.
Let’s share this knowledge with others to upgrade their skills. The benefits will see our game standards raised.
On behalf of the Hunters, I wish Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, who turned 84 on Tuesday, a happy birthday and blessings.
Until next week, play hard, play fair and play safe.

Cheers,
Mikez