Hunters making progress despite poor season: Tsaka

THE SP Hunters continue to break new ground for rugby league in the country despite a poor season in the Intrust Super Cup, says Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka.
”Whilst it has been a bad year, the SP Hunters programme has been in existence for the last six years and it has been successful,” Tsaka said in Port Moresby last week.
“Over the years, it has evolved into a national brand, carrying the flag of this country.
“People will ask you where you’re from and you’ll say PNG and to many people, it is a place in Africa or the Caribbean.
“I think the SP Hunters have done more for PNG in terms of visibility and promoting this country in Australia and the world.
“The Hunters have been a huge success. It was set up to provide a high-performance platform for the sport in this country.”
Tsaka said the exposure of players to outside competitions had improved PNG’s competitiveness on the international stage.
Tsaka made this comments when delivering his speech during the Hunters awards night on Thursday.
Hunters chairman Graham Osborne also commended the side for coming along way since their debut season in 2014.
“I thank the 84 Hunters who have been there for the past six years,” Osborne told the players.
“As the prime minister said, we are with the Hunters through thick and thin.
“Don’t worry about it we are with you.
“We’re lucky enough to have one of the best coaches in the Queensland Cup and we’re very grateful for that.
“We have great coaching staff.
“When we first started, we had some expatriates but now, we don’t.”