Hura to retire after 12 seasons

By PARKER TAMBUA
CENTRE Makara Hura says the 2022 Digicel Cup campaign will be his last before he retires from semi-professional rugby league after 12 seasons in the country’s premier rugby league competition.
The 31-year-old, from Aroma, Central, told The National on Friday that he had re-joined the Central Dabaris in the pre-season.
Hura had a one-year stint with Gulf Isou last year.
He said he only played for Gulf Isapeas, Dabaris and Isou over the past 11 seasons.
“I made my Digicel Cup debut in 2011 with one-time Gulf franchise, the Isapeas,” Hura said.
“I played with them for five seasons before the re-branding to Gulf Isou and I continued with the new team.
“Then the Dabaris joined the competition in 2018 and I joined them.
“I was with Dabaris for three years before I returned to Isou for the 2021 season. This season will be my last and I want to end it with the Dabaris, so I’ve re-joined them.”
Hura said he had been playing with Port Moresby Rugby Football club Magani when he caught the attention of Digicel Cup scouts 12 years ago.
He said he was now satisfied with his time in Papua New Guinea’s premier rugby league competition despite not going on to play with the SP Hunters or overseas.
“I tried throughout my career, but maybe it wasn’t enough for the selectors,” Hura said.
“Regardless, I am still happy that I got to play in the Digicel Cup that long.
“The good thing I can take out from my time in this competition is, I got to travel around PNG, going up to the Highlands, New Guinea Islands and Mamose. It was great.
“I met good players who became my friends and most importantly I got to earn some match payments that supported me.”