Goroka’s Hasu eyeing spot in Hunters halves

By ISAAC LIRI
NICK Hasu caught the attention of Michael Marum when he played a crucial role in the halves to help the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis win the Digicel Cup last year.
Today the 21-year-old is part of the SP PNG Hunters train-on squad in Port Moresby vying for a spot in the halves vacated by the Boas brothers, Ase and Watson.
He understands that filling those shoes will be one of his greatest challenges if given a shot and as rugby league fans wonder who will be their halves this season, the Goroka man is visualising how to make it all happen.
His dream is not a new one, he had that dream as a 12-year-old growing up in the Eastern Highlands when he first started playing rugby league at the school boys level while attending Okiufa Primary School, thus making the Hunters train-on squad has brought him a step closer in achieving his PNG Kumul dream one day.
“It’s my rugby league dream to be here, as a boy I have always dreamt of wearing the Kumuls jumper and being in the Hunters camp motivates me to keep on working hard to get there,” Hasu said.
“I haven’t played a game for the Hunters yet but if I do, it would be an honour and privilege.
“Training with the Hunters is very different from what I am used to at the Digicel Cup level and every day I am pushing hard to prove to myself and everyone I belong here.
“I understand that this is another level of rugby league and the standards are high so I have to put in a lot of effort in my training.”
Being part of the Hunters train-on squad is already an achievement for Hasu and he owes it all to his family who are always beside him. “All my family back in Goroka are very happy for me and they have been very supportive all through the way and here I am,” Hasu, who is the nephew of former Lahanis star Walter, said.
“The person who inspired me would be my uncle Walter, who is a former Lahanis player, who played back in the early 2000s.”
Hasu also described coach Michael Marum as a hard task master but someone who could get the best out of his players.
“Coach is a very hard man and he keeps on pushing us and through his guidance I can see myself graduating from the Digicel Cup into the Hunters.”
Hasu is a goal kicker and said he would not mind being given the duties in 2019.