Injury hamper Hunters: Maki

 By MELTON PAIS

PAPUA New Guinea Hunters prop Enock Maki says most of the key players in the Hunters are injured and that has contributed to a dip in form, with coach Michael Marum forced to use players in unfamiliar roles as temporary solutions.

With a 3-3 record after six rounds of the Queensland Cup, Maki, pictured, said yesterday that he had been watching the Hunters games on television since Round 2 and it was unfortunate Thompson Teteh, Adex Wera, Timothy Lomai, Sebastian Pandia and Noel Zeming were not on the field of play. “It’s a challenge for players to be used in positions they are not used to but with many injuries, that is what we have been forced to do,” Maki said.

“We are getting several guys back this weekend so that is good for us.”

Maki, who injured his right ankle in the second match of the season against the Redcliffe Dolphins, said he was confident the side will bounce back at home on Kalabond Oval this weekend against the Mackay Cutters.

The 25-year-old, who represented his country at the World Cup in 2013, said he was hoping to return by Round 9 when the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side take on the Northern Pride in Kokopo.

“I was given four to six weeks by the physio to get back to full fitness and this week is my fifth week. I will head back to Kokopo any time this week and train for another two weeks or so and hopefully I’ll be ready for the Round 9 match,” he said.