Hunters recruit Knights legend

The National Sports
Scott Barker
Ben Cross

THE SP Hunters have recruited former New South Wales and Newcastle Knights forward Ben Cross as a coaching consultant for their upcoming Queensland Intrust Super Cup campaign.
The 95-National Rugby League game legend is among three consultants recruited by Hunters boss Matthew Church as he looks to refine his players’ skills and up-skill his coaching staff.
Cross played a total of eight NRL seasons for Canberra, Melbourne and Newcastle before joining the English Super League from 2011-2013.
The other two personnel are high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans and data and video analysis consultant Scott Barker, both of whom served under master NRL coach Wayne Bennett for a total of 34 years at the NRL and representative levels.
“Hickmans’ role is to train our performance staff and deliver the level two strength and conditioning qualifications,” Church said in his weekly ‘Churchie’s Comments, which is exclusive to The National.
“To gain level two, our staff need 100 hours working under someone like Hickmans, which would be almost impossible to do in PNG.
“Barker has served as Wayne Bennett’s data and video analyst for 19 years at the NRL, State of Origin and international levels.
“He will also train coaching staff around video analysis while also training other staff on how to video or fly a drone to capture training footage.
“My goal for our players and staff to get the most of out of their sacrifice to relocate is to provide them with a learning environment.
“And to train and coach them as close as possible to an NRL club.
“Adding these men and their experience means we certainly rival some NRL teams for their high performance coaching staff.”
Meanwhile, new Hunters assistant coach and former Papua New Guinea Kumuls captain Paul Aiton has also joined the 2017 champions ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Wynnum Manly (2.40pm kick-off) with television coverage on TVWAN Plus to start at 2.30pm.
The Hunters will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence to pay their respects to the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

9 comments

  • It’s going to receive experience like Ben Cross to boost the whole Hunters team

  • I wonder how how much it would cost a consultant
    Marum had done it without consultants. I hope Church is not bring in wantoks to milk money from PNGRFL as they know very well that Rugby is our national sport and we can spend to the last toea to win in Rugby League.

  • Well let see if all this investment of PNG monies is going to result in a Grand Final . Prove your worth and all these consultants worth .Mipla laik lukim Hunters lo grandfinal lo disla yia 2021.

  • Churchy so visionary and purpose driven in making the most out of the boys and Staff who sacrificed a lot to be in Australia. Great effort. Go hunters!

  • A magnificent job done by the SP Hunters coach Mathew Church. The engagement of these highly qualified sport personnels will enhance the skill set that is necessary to compete in the second highest competition in the world of rugby league. Its a major boost for our rugby league franchise SP Hunters.

    Proud of you Mathew Church.
    Go the Hunters…..

  • Will greatly improve the Hunters players’ performances.
    Thanks coach and the Team Managemnt.

  • This is a big decision for not only now but also for the long term objectives. Well done!

Comments are closed.