Laka links up with ex-Hunters coach Church at Tigers

The National Sports

By PARKER TAMBUA
FORMER SP PNG Hunter and Wynnum-Manly Seagulls forward Kitron Laka has signed with the Brisbane Tigers for the 2024 Hostplus Cup season.
Laka’s move was made possible by former Hunters and current Tigers coach Matthew Church.
Despite being re-signed by the Seagulls for 2024 season, Laka has been a fringe player at the club.
Church told The National yesterday that Laka reached out to him, looking for an opportunity to be part of a team in the Queensland Cup. Church said the man from Togoba Mile in Western Highlands had impressed him with his off field accomplishments such as completing his studies and now working in Brisbane, which captivated him to sign the second-rower.
Laka is not new to the Tigers colors as he once played for the PNG intercity club Lae Tigers and was part of the 2021 Digicel Cup premiership winning side.
“I had a meeting with Kitron a few weeks ago, he was looking for an opportunity, he wanted to join a club where he felt like he belonged,” Church said. “Kitron joins us (Tigers) knowing that he has to work his way into our side. Given that he joined us late, he knows that he has to earn his spot.
“One thing that really impressed me about Kitron is that he came to me before the end of the 2022 Hunters season about wanting to stay in Australia to study.
“He stayed and undertook his studies, he now works in that field of study and has really started to set himself up off the field; very impressive.”
Church said he now wanted to guide Laka on his on-field performance. “Off the field, he is going well and I’m looking forward to helping him with his on-field performance,” Church said.
“Like most teams at this time of the year we have limited injuries and we have recruited well so there’s a few ahead of him.
“If Kitron can apply his off field performance to his on-field, then he works his way into our side.”
Laka will play for either Bulimba Bulldogs or Carina Tigers, who are the Tigers feeder clubs in the local Brisbane Rugby League competition, while waiting for an opening in the Q Cup side.