Hunters trim numbers

By MELTON PAIS
PROMISING half Benton Leme was among 10 players released from the SP PNG Hunters squad as coach Michael Marum moves closer to his final 25 for the 2019 Q-Cup season.
Leme, who plays for the Port Moresby Vipers in the Digicel Cup, was expected to vie for a halves spot with the loss of Ase Boas and Watson Boas in the offseason but Marum will likely rely on a rotation involving Charlie Simon, William Mone, Nick Hasu and Jerry Teme.
The squad which comprised 60 players when announced last month has been reduced to 32 players with Adex Wera, Enoch Maki and Stanton Albert the most experienced players having logged in four to five years in the Hunters’ programme.
Exciting Southern Confederate products Rex Kaupa and Sani Wabo have retained their spots in the squad with the Marum set to announce his final season squad at the end of the month.
The 10 players omitted from the intitial 42-man squad are Benton Leme (Port Moresby Vipers), Emmanuel Waine (Waghi Tumbe), Joshua Nani (Waghi Tumbe), Isaac Patrick (Goroka Lahanis), Moses Okopila (Gulf Isou), Damien Herod (Enga Mioks), Eddie Daffa (Enga Mioks), Gilmo Paul (Highlands Zone), Kitron Laka (UPNGRFL) and Leeroy Kamau (Alotau RF)
Grand final winning Hunter Bland Abavu is back with the club after a stint in the Ipswich rugby league competition last year and will be a senior member of the backline after experienced centre Thompson Teteh’s departure to England.
Abavu is the likely candidate to play fullback especially after Edene Gabbie’s move to Wynnum Manly.
The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side club has a raft of debutants that are expected to feature prominently in 2019 including Justin Yoka, Nick Hasu, Gairo Kapana and Woods Kawage.
Out of the lot, flyer Kapana is the one with international experience having represented PNG in sevens rugby. Marum said the 32-man squad would be trimmed to 25 well ahead of their preseason match next month.
Marum said the players, who were still on their Christmas and New Year break, would return to camp on Sunday in Port Moresby with training to start at the National Football Stadium on Monday.
“In consultation with the coaching staff, we are now trimming the squad to those players who can fill the positions and sustain a long season,” Marum said.
“To those players that have been released, we have given them programmes to continue training and have advised them on areas they need to improve on.
“We hope that they share what they have experienced in the Hunters programme with their respective clubs and continue to improve and better their standards,” he said.
Hunters 32-man squad: Adex Wera, Baundo Aba, Bland Abavu, Brendan Nima, Butler Morris, Charlie Simon, Daniel Tapol, Dilbert Isaac, Enoch Maki, Epel Kapinias, Gairo Kapana, Ila Alu, Jack Oii, Jerry Teme, Joe Frank, Joe Joshua, Jordon Pat, Junior Rau, Junior Rop, Justin Yoka, Kevin Appo, McKenzie Yei, Moses Meninga, Nick Hasu, Patrick Morea, Rex Kaupa, Sani Wabo, Shane Haro, Stanton Albert, Wawa Paul, William Mone, Woods Kawage.