Hunters’ hitman Rop

THE SP PNG Hunters will not be short of aggression and hardness with Junior Rop on the field this season.
The former Hunters squad member, who was part of the 2018 squad but withdrew because of studies, is back and raring to nail down a spot in coach Michael Marum’s pack.
Standing 180cm and weighting 100kg, Rop has the size and rugged style to cause problems for defences.
Rop’s father the late Isaac Sr played a test for the Kumuls in 1988 against the touring Great Britain side.
Rop Junior forged his own path being a valuable member of Stanley Tepend’s Lae Tigers over the last three seasons.
The hard-running Western Highlander caught the eye while part of an imposing Tigers pack and was one of the key performers in the club’s maiden premiership win in 2016 and then their second title the following year.
It was coming off that golden point 11-10 win over the Agmark Gurias in 2017 that Rop was drafted into Marum’s 2018 squad.
Rop, who has logged three years in the semi-professional Digicel Cup said he had been fortunate enough to play in the annual Prime Ministers 13 fixture (2017 and 2018) as well as in the annual Melanesian Cup clash against the Fiji champions (2017 and 2018).
Rop said one of his goals was to emulate his father and represent the country but his immediate concern was playing well for the Hunters.
“I’m looking to the 2021 World Cup in England and I want to try and make that team but right now I just want to play in the Q-Cup and do well,” the 24-year-old said.
Rop, who started playing as a primary school student in 2008, said he got a boost from having his family attend his games.
The back-rower joined the Tigers in 2016 moving from Mt Hagen to Lae.
Rop made the Highlands Zone trials as a grade 11 student in 2011 where he was voted the best forward.
After completing 12th grade in 2012 he did not continue his tertiary education until 2015 when he moved to Lae to take up a nursing course where he linked up with the Royals club the following year.
Rop said he was happy to be in the Hunters programme and would do his best to help the team be successful in 2019.
“Being in the Hunters is like a job. Everyone is serious about what they do and we all try to meet the expectations of the coaching staff as well as improve our fitness and skills so we can play well,” Rop said.
Rop said the most pleasing aspect of doing in the 12-week pre-season training was all the information and knowledge he was gaining to be a professional footballer.