Hunters wary of threats

SP PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum says his men are singularly focused on winning the final three games of the Q-Cup regular season but will not make the mistake of discounting any opposition even if they are low on the standings.
Sunday’s round 22 match at Piggabeen Sports Complex against the Tweed Heads Seagulls pits the finals bound Hunters against a desperate opponent that have proven something of a bogey side for Marum’s men of late.
Tweed pushed the Easts Tigers hard last round before capitulating 30-22 but showed signs that they are an attacking threat and a team that thrives on confidence.
With Gold Coast Titans Kane Elgey, Bryce Cartwright and Brendon Elliott in the line-up, Marum admitted his side would need a repeat of last week’s defensive effort where they restricted the Souths Logan Magpies to just six points at Davies Park.
“They’ve got the Titans boys like Bryce Cartwright and Kane Elgey playing for them and they’ll be tough because of their experience but we showed against the Magpies that we can hold teams out,” Marum said.
“They’ve also got the other guys like Tristan Lumely, who has been strong whenever he plays us. Hooker Sam Meskell is another guy who likes to take us on.
“They are one side that seem to give us trouble so we have to have be careful not to take things easy.
“This is a must-win game for us. We can’t afford to lose or we’ll fall back because there’s several sides like the Jets, Falcons and the Devils who are on the same points as us.”
The Hunters are on 24 points and in sixth place and only need to win their remaining three games to make their playoffs although Marum hinted that two wins could still get them there.
“We need to win this weekend and then get the win over Wynnum Manly at home next week and depending on the other results things might be different.
“But we’ll see, right now the main thing is we have to win on Sunday,” Marum said.
SP Hunters: 1. Edene Gabbie 2. Junior Rau 3. Thompson Teteh 4. Adex Wera 5. Brendon Gotuno 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Enoch Maki 9. Wartovo Puara Jr 10. Moses Meninga 11. Willie Minoga 12. Nixon Put 13. Stanton Albert; Reserves: 14. Charlie Simon 15. Ila Alu 16. McKenzie Yei 17. Dilbert Isaac 18. Rhadley Brawa 19. Patrick Morea 20. Paul Wawa. (Two to be ommitted).
Rd 22 Fixtures: Sat, Aug 11 – Ipswich Jets v CQ Capras, Townsville Blackhawks v Redcliffe Dolphins, Mackay Cutters v northern Pride; Sun, Aug 12 – Sunshine Coast Falcons v Easts Tigers, Souths Logan Magpies v Burleigh Bears, Tweed Heads Seagulls v PNG Hunters, Wynnum Manly Seagulls v Norths Devils.