Put named Hunters Player of the Year

DESPITE missing out on the Q-Cup finals, the SP PNG Hunters were farewelled on a high note at the National Football Stadium last night.
Forward Nixon Put, pictured, was named Player of the Year.
The 23-year-old backed up an impressive debut last year with a stellar 2018 where he played all 23 games with the first two at centre and the rest in the No.11 jersey.
During the awards presentation night for the club, Hunters chairman Graham Osborne announced that seven members of the team would be signing contracts with overseas clubs in the next two months.
Osborne, nor the PNGRFL, would not say who the players were or which clubs had signed them on or were in talks to acquire them.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka acknowledged coach Michael Marum and the Hunters players and coaching stuff, sponsors and key stakeholders for their commitment and dedication in the team’s fifth year in the competition.
Tsaka also made mention of the Hunters participation agreement which PNGRFL would be working on in partnership with the QRL to ensure the Hunters’ future in the Q-Cup was assured.
“This is the last year of the five-year participation agreement for the Hunters which was signed by PNGRFL and QRL,” Tsaka said.
“It’s been a great challenge logistically and financially but the results speaks volumes of the partnership.
“We’re in talks with the QRL on the participation agreement and hopefully it will be finalised in the next two months.”
Speaking on behalf of the major sponsors SP Brewery managing director Stan Joyce said the Hunters’ participation in the Q-Cup added value to the second tier rugby league competition with confidence that QRL would be impressed with the Hunters participation since they entered the competition in 2014.
Important dignitaries in attendance were Vice Sports Minister Wesley Raminai, Digicel TV boss Charlie Clementson and PNG Sports Foundation head Peter Tsiamalili Jr.
Club milestone awards were also given with hooker Wartovo Puara Jr becoming the first player to play 100 games, Adex Wera the first player to score 50 tries and Ase Boas the first players to score 400 points. Awards: Player of the Year — Nixon Put; Best Back — Junior Rau; Best Forward — Enoch Maki; Best Defender — Moses Meninga; Top Points Scorer — Ase Boas; Top Try Scorer — Watson Boas; Rookie of the Year — Edene Gabbie; Players Player of the Year — Rhadley Brawa; Clubman of the Year — Joe Bruno (trainer).