PETE’S PUNCHLINE

The National Sports
  • Love Paul Aiton’s demeanor and disposition when answering questions post-match: very grounded. He congratulated his team for the win, said it was a positive start and then said there were some areas his team were scrappy in – discipline (conceding unneccessary penalties) and the goal kicking.
  • Aiton’s measured response is something one could say that about every Hunters coach. In fact, I don’t think Michael Marum ever cracked a smile throughout his entire tenure with the Hunters. They say catching a Marum smile was harder then bagging a Sasquatch.
  • Sakias Komati has the potential to be a player with the kind of influence on the Hunters game like an Ase Boas or Israel Eliab. Even when he’s having an off day, he’s still a dangerous customer. But please, no more goal-kicking, Saki. Let Trevor, Clent or Judah handle that area of the game. Thanks, I know you’ll understand.
  • Ila Alu will take the third hit-up in most Hunters sets – it’s written into his contract.
  • Hunters prop Weiyah Koi is the son of former Pukpuk centre Nickson Koi. For those who don’t know, the senior Koi was a big hard-running centre who played for Brothers in the Port Moresby rugby union competition from the mid-1990s to early 2000s. Weiyah is a real chip off the old block. Looking forward to a solid season from the young man.
  • The Hunters pack did well without Junior Rop and Seal Kalo. Imagine once these guys are fit and jostling for spots in the game day 17.
  • Dear me, is this racial abuse situation going to keep festering? Leniu admitted fault and apologised. Can Mam just accept that and get on with it?
  • Two surprising results in boxing on Friday: firstly, Anthony Joshua whacking Francis Ngannou in two, and; secondly, Joseph Parker beating the Chinese big-foot Zhilei Zhang via points despite getting dropped twice. Both great wins in their own right. I had AJ winning a wide points decision and I thought Zhang was going to beat up Joe.
  • Bazball is flaming out or has flamed out. England crushed 4-1 by India at home. Either there is a rethink or England will be hit-and-miss under McCullum and Stokes. It’s like they think they’re the ‘Thomas Hearns’ of test cricket. That style will probably work against 90 per cent of the opposition but the really good sides will handle you. Remember Hagler-Hearns?
  • This is a genuine question: If Southern Highlands will host the PNG Games can the HOC be audited by an independent agency to find out how the initial funding was spent? – PGTP ([email protected])