Duo back for Hunters

By JACK AMI
SP PNG Hunters back Wawa Paul has been handed the fullback role for Sunday’s round 16 Q-Cup fixture against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Paul, who has been used in a utility role, covering fullback and the three-quarters since he joined the club last year, comes in for the suspended Adex Wera.
Club captain Ase Boas returns to the starting line-up at five-eighth and will partner brother Watson in the halves.
Fill-in No.6 Charlie Simon moves back to the extended bench.
The younger Boas took up the chief play-making role in his brother Ase’s absence but is expected to keep the goal kicking responsibility.
Despite fielding 10 players in Saturday’s Pacific test against Fiji, the Hunters players involved in that 26-14 win have pulled up injury free.
Assistant coach Nigel Hukula confirmed that the 10 players — Ase Boas, Adex Wera, Enoch Maki, Junior Rau, Nixon Put, Stanton Albert, Thompson Teteh, Watson Boas, Willie Minoga, Rhadley Brawa — had been given a break and return to training tomorrow.
Hukula said the team were desperate to make the finals (top six) and needed to start by winning all their home games of which their next five were in PNG.
“We are hoping to make the top six by winning our next five home games against Sunshine Coast (July 1), Redcliffe (July 8), Pride (July 15) in Port Moresby and against the Devils (July 22) in Lae and against Burleigh back in the national capital,” Hukula said.
“To make the top six we have to win all these home games.
“There is no place for complacency as all the team’s coming up here will be confident and we have to be focused.”
He added that the 10 players would have gained a lot of confidence from their test win and he was hoping it showed on the field at the National Football Stadium.
Kumul Justin Olam will most likely travel up to Port Moresby with the Falcons despite not being named in their side.
Olam, who played fullback in Saturday’s test against the Bati, came off with a right ankle injury but he was included as a reserve for the Melbourne Storm for this week’s NRL fixture against the Cronulla Sharks on Friday.
Coach Michael Marum will confirm the final 18 at the captain’s run on Saturday and the final 17 an hour before kick off on Sunday.
PNG Hunters: 1. Paul Wawa, 2. Junior Rau, 3. Thompson Teteh, 4. Willie Minoga, 5. Brendon Gotuno, 6. Ase Boas (c), 7. Watson Boas, 8. Enoch Maki, 9. Wartovo Puara Jr, 10. Stanton Albert, 11. Nixon Put, 12. McKenzie Yei, 13. Rhadley Brawa; Interchange: 14. Charlie Simon, 15. Ila Alu, 16. Dilbert Isaac, 17. Edene Gabbie, 18. Moses Meninga, 19. William Mone, 20. Baunda Aba.
Fixtures: Sun, July 1 – Hela Wigmen vd Agmark Gurias (1215); PNG Hunters v Sunshine Coast Falcons (1500); Port Moresby Vipers v Chimbu Warriors (1700).