Hunters to host Blackhawks

THE SP Hunters will hold what could potentially be a farewell match at Bycroft Oval, Runaway Bay, tomorrow (3pm kick-off) when they host Townsville Blackhawks in round 18 of Queensland’s Hostplus Cup.
The Hunters are expected to return home to Papua New Guinea in the coming weeks as they mark the end to a two-and-a-half year relocation, meaning this weekend’s game could be the last time the Hunters play at their home away from home at Bycroft Oval.
The Hunters’ last outing was a disappointing 6-44 loss to heavyweights Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Brimming with National Rugby League experience, the top-four Falcons were too good for the Hunters last week, but that did not prevent the visitors from fighting until the final whistle.
The Hunters, who occupy the 12th spot, get a chance to respond this weekend when they face the 10th-placed Blackhawks on Saturday.
The Hunters will have fond memories of the Blackhawks, having travelled to Townsville earlier the season and ambushing the locals 42-20 in a high-scoring affair.
Dilbert Isaac, Sylvester Namo and Emmanuel Waine were standouts for the Hunters in that game, combining for a total 370m, three tries and 14 tackle busts.
Isaac remains injured, but Namo and Waine have been two of PNG’s best this season and shape as key forwards for the Hunters again tomorrow. Meanwhile, vice-captain Brandon Nima has found some form late in the season and will be a go-to man in attack for the Hunters.
In his last three games, Nima has crossed the line once and set up another three as he locks down a centre position outside five-eighth Judah Rimbu and back-rower Kitron Laka on the Hunters’ left edge.
With Laka having a breakout season for the Hunters’ on that left edge, the spaces have begun opening up for Nima on the outside and he has impressed in the last few weeks to capitalise on this and assist in troubling the scoreboard.
Head coach Matthew Church said the squad had learnt from last week’s loss to the Falcons.
“The Falcons gave us a lesson in pressure football,” he said.
“At this level, you have to complete well and kick even better against strong opposition.
“So our focus this week has been around using our kicking game to create momentum and build pressure.” Church also expressed his pride for the players following last week’s news of a delayed homecoming.
“It was a distraction most definitely and I think you could see that in last week’s performance,” he said.
“Being told you can’t return home through no fault of your own is tough.
“We are a professional football team and try to only focus on what we can control, but we are also human beings who crave to be around our people and culture.
“I’m so proud of this group.
“I have been involved in rugby league for 40 years and I don’t know a team who could have done what this group have done. It’s easy to overlook the human cost of having to do that, but if you live with this experience day in day out then you’d be proud of how they have conducted themselves as good ambassadors of PNG and the Hunters.”
Hunters: Tyler Han, Roderick Tai, Brandon Nima, Benji Kot, Solo Wane, Kingstimer Paraia, Judah Rimbu, Francis Kembis, Wartovo Puara Jr, Sylvester Namo, Sherwin Tanabi, Kitron Laka, Ila Alu (c); Interchange – Wesser Tenza, Emmanuel Waine, Jordan Pat, Mark Tony. Fixtures: Sat, Aug 13 – Hunters v Blackhawks, Tigers v Falcons, Jets v Wynnum Manly, Pride v Tweed Heads; Sun, Aug 14 – Cutters v Bears, Capras v Devils, Magpies v Dolphins.