Hunters struggling

By MELTON PAIS
PAPUA New Guinea Hunters coach Michael Marum was candid in his assessment of his side’s performance over the weekend, saying their inexperience and inability to hold on to the ball was bringing them undone.
The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side was beaten 34-18 by the Burleigh Bears in their Round 8 fixture at Pizzey Park on Sunday.
The Hunters have now lost six matches of the opening eight games of the Q-Cup sending their premiership defence into a tailspin.
Their only wins were at home in round 1 and 4 against the Ipswich Jets and the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
“We got off to a slow start with Bears putting three tries on us and we managed to get back into the game towards the back end of the first half trailing 12-10 at halftime score line,” Marum said.
“I think we had a strong start to the second half and got the lead until towards middle but again we allowed the Bears back in and they just put more points on us.
“To add onto the few mistakes that was made in the field, there were two crucial drop balls in our own half that allowed the Bears to allowed them back and that comes down to experience at this level and keeping focused.”
Marum said he had to deal with a large turn of talent and bringing in the new talent to fill those gaps in experience and class would take time.
He said they also had to cope with situations arising during the match which did not help when a younger less experienced player was filling in for a more experienced one.
Marum added that consistency from set to set and half top half was an issue where the side would be good for 40 minutes or a period and then fail to maintain that throughout.
“We still lack consistency in our matches even though the boys are trying hard.
“I thought our young boys did well but again not good enough to win the game.”
Marum said PNG Kumuls prop Luke Page with his forwards dominated the game with their damaging runs on the Bears side, which impressed him.
“We trained really well for this game and they are a really good side, they’re on top and in form but I’m happy that at least we pushed them hard,” Marum said.
“We really need to work on our discipline this week.
“Our defence was poor at times, so I will be talking to our boys again especially with the senior players in the group.”
The Hunters were without two of their best playmakers in captain Ase Boas (dropped) and hooker Wartovo Puara Jr (shoulder) and had to adjust but even with old heads in forwards Enoch Maki and Adam Korave and Adex Wera at fullback could not spark the side to a win.
The Hunters have the bye this weekend and then take on the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at BMD Kougaari Oval, Brisbane in their Round 10 fixture.