Focus on consistency

Sports

THE SP Hunters have turned their focus to a burst of consistency as their young squad prepare to again face Queensland Intrust Super Cup (ISC) heavyweights Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Maryborough tomorrow (2.10pm kick-off).
Coach Matthew Church wants the Hunters to use the last five weeks of the competition to build the consistency that can make them a competition frontrunner.
“It’s all part of the learning curve for these young guys,” he said.
“We’re getting there. I know what these guys are capable of and how much effort they put in and how much the experience of this season is going to make in their careers.
“The last five rounds are our chance of showing how much improvement we have in our consistency.
“That includes this week when we face a Wynnum team who have plenty of experience and skill.
“They’ve had a few struggles in recent weeks but that’s the nature of this competition. “It’s not easy and you have to be on your game all of the time or other teams can win.”
The Seagulls have lost their last three matches to fall out of the competition lead and they will not have their treasured home crowd this week after the match was moved to Maryborough — a drive of a few hours north of Brisbane.
The 2021 Hunters have only five players with more than two full seasons’ ISC experience in skipper Ila Alu, hooker Wartovo Puara Jr, prop Stanton Albert, five-eighth Ase Boas and halfback Charlie Simon.
The others are learning about the importance of consistency and the need to be sharp each week in a competition as demanding as the ISC.
Fixtures: Sat, July 31 ­— Wynnum Manly v Hunters, Blackhawks v Jets, Bears v Magpies, Devils v Tigers, Pride v Falcons, Capras v Tweed Heads; Sun, Aug 1 — Dolphins v Cutters.