Hunters to tighten defence

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE SP Hunters will aim to muscle up in defence when they take on the Burleigh Bears in round 20 of the Intrust Super Cup at the National Football Stadium on Sunday.
With only four games left before the end of the regular season, the 13th-placed Hunters are looking to re-build leading up to next year’s campaign.
In view of that, the Hunters have named a mixture of experienced and upcoming players to face the third-placed Bears.
“We won’t finish in the top-eight this year but the last couple of games are important for us to build on for next year with the likes of experienced players like David Loko, Gary Lo and Willie Minoga.
“Defence let us down last week so we really need to aim up this weekend,” Hunters assistant coach Glen Nami said. “Burleigh Bears are a top-eight team, they are finals contenders, they’ll want to finish the season strongly ahead of the finals.
“Despite missing out on the finals, our main objective is to finish strongly at the back end of the season and these last couple of games means a lot to us.
“If we can do that, it will help give us a lot of confidence heading into next season.”
Meanwhile, rookie winger Roy Ellison will play his second match in place of Junior Rau who has been released to attend to personal issues.
“He’s been training hard, doing little things right and he’s inclusion in the team is part of our plans for next year. The more matches he plays, the better he becomes.”
Kimbe Cutters centre and seasoned Hunter Bland Abavu replaces Brendon Gotuno on the wing.
Gotuno was handed a one-match suspension by the Queensland Rugby League judiciary for a dangerous throw in last weekend’s 48-18 loss to the Townsville Blackhawks.
Fixtures: Sat, Aug 10 – Dolphins v Tigers, Pride v Devils, Capras v Blackhawks; Sun, Aug 11 – Cutters v Falcons, Wynnum Manly v Magpies, Jets v Seagulls, Hunters v Bears.