Marum drops trio

By ISAAC LIRI
ASE Boas’ return to the SP PNG Hunters has been overshadowed by the dropping of three players for missing Monday’s recovery session and failing to inform the team management of their whereabouts.
Joe Joshua who stood out in Sunday’s 28-26 loss to the visiting Sunshine Coast Falcons and was expected to be one of the first named in the squad to take on Intrust Super Cup competition leaders Easts Tigers in Brisbane on Sunday but went missing after the game and has not returned to camp.
The other two players who missed Monday’s session, but reported yesterday to camp, were second-rowers McKenzie Yei and Junior Rop.
Boas, who returned to the country from the UK last Saturday, slots into halfback alongside impressive rookie Justin Yoka.
A disappointed coach Michael Marum said he had no choice but to drop the three whose conduct he described as “unprofessional”.
While Yei and Rop will miss the weekend’s match Joshua’s sanction is currently pending as team management is yet to receive a full report of his whereabouts and reason behind his absence from camp.
Marum stressed discipline was a key aspect that would be maintained in the Hunters programme with no exceptions.
“Joe Joshua didn’t turn up for training, he probably had a big night on Sunday and hasn’t turned up for training,” Marum said.
“I’m not aware of his whereabouts so I’ve asked the team manager Ron Titie to contact Joe and find out why he’s missed training.
“Mckenzie and Junior Rop didn’t turn up for our recovery session on Monday which is really important and they only turned this morning.
“Discipline has to be maintained so that’s a message we’re sending out to all players in camp.
“It was a tough call because we’ve worked hard with Joshua all through the fifteen weeks and for him to just disappear like that is so unprofessional.
“We know that there are a lot of people counting on us, the sponsors and our fans and we have to tighten up our attitudes.
“We’ve been taking it easy on them and we haven’t taken any tough penalties on anyone because we understand they’re a new group.
“I’ve already spoken with Mckenzie and Junior Rop and they told me they were with their families but for us, that is just not good enough, we put the team first, so they will both miss one week.
“For Joshua we haven’t heard from him so once we do we will decide on what penalties he’ll face.
“We have a code of conduct and they know that when they sign the contract depending on how they play, when they miss a game. There are monetary fines that go with the level of penalty.”
With the omission of the three players, Marum named four debutants in his squad.
Shane Haro comes onto the left centre for Joshua while forwards Epel Kapinias and Kevin Appo replace Yei and Rop.
In the other change to the bench dynamic dummy half Woods Kawage comes in for Nick Hasu.
Jack Oii, Jerry Teme and Jordan Pat have been named on the extended bench.