Give them time: Marum

By JACK AMI
SP PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum says he knows his side will get better as the season progresses and that they had his confidence.
Marum said it was still early days and he was patient and understood would the players were still forming combinations and getting used to each other playing against high quality sides.
“We all should have the patience and respect for the players who have never played together before as a team.
Marum said he respected his players for the genuine effort they were putting and would not put pressure on them to play to a level they had not reached yet – but given time they would be competitive.
“We should all understand that that’s what happens when we have a completely new set of combinations to work with after losing halves Ase and Watson Boas as well as dummy-half Wartovo Puara Jr which took a lot of from us but we are working hard to be better,” he said.
“There is no such thing as having a perfect combination overnight. They have to play for some time to understand each other and master their roles and they know that.
“These are the best players we have from the Digicel Cup recommended by their coaches and picked by selectors.
“We should not criticize the players for their effort. Yes their performance and results are not good but believe me, they are trying their best out there and I still have confidence in them.
“I’m not in a rush to bring others players form outside into the squad because I want this team to develop into a better side.”
Marum, who shifted five-eighth Charlie Simon to hooker for Sunday’s Round 3 Intrust Super Cup game against the Sunshine Coast Falcons, said he was willing to continue giving his halves the chance to build on their combinations and be more effective members of the team.
Marum admitted that execution was poor but put that down to the newness of the combinations and some of the players who were playing at that level for the first time.
“We trained for 14 weeks as a unit and our expectation is that the team will get better but they need our support.”