Hunters back in camp, recoup for Jets collision

 THE majority of the SP Hunters returned to base in Kokopo on Sunday and yesterday after their 26-12 loss to the Blackhawks in Townsville on Saturday.

They now need to beat an Ipswich Jets side, who are in red-hot finals form after their 44-18 crushing of the Easts Tigers, on Sunday at the BMD Kougari Oval in Brisbane.

Hunters coach Michael Marum reported no major injuries despite the staggered return of the squad to their Kokopo base. 

He confirmed that the side did not pick up any reports for judicial review as well.

He said he would have a complete picture on the injury front today once the whole squad was assembled for recovery and training at the Kalabond Oval.

“We’ll pick our team to play the Jets from the 21-man squad and I’m glad to say there are no major injuries to report but I’ll have a clearer picture once everyone is back in camp tomorrow,” Marum said.

“We’ll be playing the preliminary final at Wynnum Manly Seagulls home ground in Brisbane. 

“We weren’t going to play it at the Jets home ground because we finished higher than them on the ladder so it wouldn’t have been fair for them to be hosting two finals matches in a row.” Marum said his players and the coaching staff were disappointed with their performance at the Jack Manski Oval on Saturday afternoon and it was now up to them to turn things around against Ipswich in six days.

“We lost to a hungrier team (Blackhawks). 

“Although we defended well we were punished for every mistake we made. That’s finals football.”