Hunters look to next season

Sports
Assistant coach Nami confident younger squad members will step up

THE SP Hunters are backing their younger squad members to use this year’s Queensland Intrust Super Cup experience to lift their game next season, says assistant coach Glen Nami.
The 13th-placed Hunters, who have three wins from 21 matches in the 14-team competition, face the Redcliffe Dolphins (seventh) at the National Football Stadium (3pm kick-off) on Sunday before wrapping up their campaign with a trip to Brisbane to face the Souths Logan Magpies (10th) next Sunday (3.05pm kick-off).
Ahead of Sunday’s match, head coach Michael Marum said: “I am the first to admit that we have had a woeful season. But we will put on a performance that every loyal SP Hunters follower will be proud of.”

SP Hunters’ Epel Kapinias (left) and Enoch Maki training at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Tuesday. – PNGRFLpic

Nami said a lacklustre performance in the Hunters’ 4-60 loss to Wynnum Manly last weekend summed up the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side’s season.
“Last weekend’s match was obviously disappointing,” he said on Tuesday.
“Not just that match, we have not been doing well all season. We failed in most areas of the match.
“Wynnum Manly are a strong side, they’re a finals team and they played well against us. They capitalised on our weaknesses.
“However, despite the results we’ve been recording, we still have a lot of talent in our squad.
“More than half of the squad are from domestic competitions and they’re all young players.
“This is their first season. We’ve got promising players in our squad and our future looks good.
“We hope some of these players can be scouted by teams overseas later in their career.”
Despite the loss, Nami was pleased to see Wynnum Manly fullback Edene Gebbie making his mark in the game, which has seen the former Hunter earn a two-year deal with South Sydney from next year.
“Edene has been good for them all season. Last week was one of the best games he’s had against us,” he said.