Exciting times ahead

Hello there, all our PNG Rugby League families and friends ! Welcome to this 12th edition of the Coach’s Corner in your favourite rugby league newspaper – The National.
There was some noticeable improvements in certain areas of the SP Hunters performance last Sunday. We are working hard on other areas. We have to be patient and consistent.
The second half of the ISC season starts this weekend at home when we meet Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round 14. They beat us 10 nil in the first game of the season away. Ila Alu returns to the side after spending the last 13 weeks on the sidelines when he fractured his left forearm against Tweeds in the first round.
Youngster Roy Elison debuts as Hunter No. 83 on the wing. He has settled in well and has been training really hard for this opportunity
Peter Botten and his team at Oil Search Ltd are commended for renewing the naming rights sponsorship with the PNG Orchids. This is good for rugby league. This partnership and the initiative with Oil Search Foundation to empower our better half’s and young girls is encouraging and exciting. Oil Search PNG Orchids is and will be household name in the future.
Nigel Hukula has named the team for the Pacific Test against Fiji. We’ll all be together and have one goal in Sydney. Congratulations to the women /girls for making the team. Your families and PNG are right behind you all.
The PNG LNG Kumuls Test Team will be named on Sunday afternoon. This follows NRL protocol to allow the selected players complete their NRL club commitments.
We have a competitive team ready to take on Samoa. Next week I will talk to you from Sydney about our preparations and any information on the players and the camp ahead of the game on Saturday June 22, 2019 at Leichart Oval in Sydney’s Western suburbs. The Team goes into camp on Monday June 17, 2019 at Paramatta.
The Coca-Cola Regional National Schools Championships kicked off at Kokopo for the NGI Confederate last weekend.
I saw talent and skill and was impressed. I encourage the teachers/ coach’s of these youngsters to develop and instil knowledge and best attitudes at this young age. This weekend we travel to Minj for the Highlands leg.
Round 11 of our Digicel Cup competition this weekend is the – Men of Honour’ round. This Digicel Foundation initiative recognises men from all walks of life in the society for their exceptional contributions to their families, communities and PNG. These are men who make sacrifices behind the scenes which many of us don’t recognise and know about. Past award recipients in Port Moresby will be at the Triple Header games on Sunday at the Oil Search National Football Stadium. Three will
be given the honours to do the ”Coin Toss’ for the three games. Thank you Digicel and to all our men/boys – let’s support and contribute positively and meaningfully to our families, communities and PNG.
Yesterday the SP Hunters visited three Primary schools in the city – Ororo, Tokarara and St Pauls to deliver Healthy lifestyles messages as part of our community engagement activity. Big thanks to the teachers and students and the NRL-PNG staff for facilitating the visits.
The Trukai Fun Run is on again this Sunday morning across the country. People, young and old, school children, persons with disabilities, toddlers and pets take part in this event for Fun and enjoyment. Those young boys / men going there to cause trouble and spoil the fun, let me tell you – stay home or stay away. Go to school or join a rugby league team and be a good honest person to help others.
Thank you to Prime Minister Hon James Marape for coming to the dressing rooms before our game against the Mackay Cutters. The result did not go our way but as you said, the Government and people will support the SP Hunters despite the losses. We are doing everything we can to get back on the winning track and repay this faith and support to you all.
Like every Papua New Guinean, it is our dream for the PNG Kumuls to beat the Australian Kangaroos during our lifetime. Like you said – that day would make me the happiest Papua New Guinean. Nothing is impossible from our land of the unexpected.
Keep those comments coming in to the Hunters Forum on email: [email protected]; We value them..
Until next week – play hard, play safe and play by rules.

Cheers Mikz