Mead facing Hunters

By MELTON PAIS
DAVID Mead is set to face the PNG Hunters for the first time when the Wynnum Manly Seagulls come to Port Moresby for Sunday’s round 24 Q-Cup clash at the National Football Stadium.
The 28-year-old, who has been playing in the Intrust Super Cup while trying to secure a starting spot in the Brisbane Broncos this season, has played nine games for the Seagulls.
With Wynnum Manly already out of finals contention — they are in ninth place on 22 points — the match will also be an opportunity for Hunters coach Michael Marum to see Mead, who is expected to be named in the Kumuls World Cup squad next month, play.
Mead, who has played a handful of games for the Broncos this season, mostly off the bench, has never played against the Hunters before and this weekend will be his Q-Cup club’s first game against the SP-sponsored side in 2017.
Coach Michael Marum has maintained the same squad from the last two weekends to take on Wynnum
This weekend with be the Hunters final home game for the regular season and a win over the Adam Brideson-coached side will secure them the minor premiership with a round to go.
Marum said he was pleased with his side’s defensive effort against the Townsville Blackhawks and wanted his men to maintain that intensity over the last two games of the season – the Hunters play the Tweed Heads Seagulls away in the final round.
“Obviously, we’re aiming for a win this weekend and that will get us the minor premiership,” Marum said.
“It won’t be easy against the Seagulls. They’re probably as good as the Easts Tigers (third place) and they’re just as tough but we’re on home turf and we have to keep working hard, continue our form.”
Mead will not be the only Seagulls player to watch as the side named yesterday feature notable players in experienced half Travis Burns, hard-running winger Peter Gubb, five-eighth Shaun Nona and back-rowers in captain Mitch Frei and Salesi Funaki. Despite being named in the No.1 jersey Stargroth Amean fitness is still being assessed after he left the field in last Saturday’s 24-16 win over the Blackhawks at Jack Manski Oval.
Amean has already suffered concussion in previous games stretching to 2015 when he first started playing for the Hunters.
Hunters: 1.Stargroth Amean, 2. Bland Abavu, 3. Israel Eliab, 4. Willie Minoga, 5. Butler Morris, 6. Ase Boas (C), 7. Watson Boas, 8. Wellington Albert (VC), 9. Wartovo Puara Jr, 14 Enoch Maki, 11. David Loko, 12. Nixon Put, 13. Stanton Albert; Reserves: 20. Paul Wawa, 15. Rhadley Brawa, 16. Moses Meninga, 17. Karo Kauna Jr, 18. Esau Siune, 19. Brandy Peter, 20.  Adex Wera