Team’s debut signifies accomplishment: CEO Tassell

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The National, Tuesday March 4th, 2014

 By JOHN PANGKATANA

THREE years of sweat has finally paid off with the emergence of the PNG Hunters opening match in Queensland Rugby League’s Intrust Super Cup at Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe on Sunday.

Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) CEO Brad Tassell said the opening match for the Hunters had a lot of feeling of accomplishment.

Tassell said a lot of work was done behind the scenes to get to this stage and PNG stands to gain mileage from being part of the National Rugby League (NRL) second-tier competition in the long run.

Following the SP Hunters’ opening 24-18 win, Tassell said it was the perfect way to start the season.

“This was a culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people to even get to kick off a ball on Sunday,” he said.

“There were a lot of hurdles and issues that had to be overcome and it was an emotional day for all concerned. I know the board and everyone involved was proud of the way the team performed but it is only round 1 and we have a long way to go,” he added.

Nobody including the team is getting carried away with the win. 

Tassell maintained that they have a very tough run of three home games against three of the best teams in the competition and “we have to get better and do it again week after week over 23 rounds”.

“The coaching staff have been very insistent on pointing it out to the players and stressing that it’s back to business (today), back to their routine and preparation for our first home game against the Mackay Cutters in Kokopo on Saturday,” he added.

PNGRFL board chairman Sandis Tsaka said it is a proud moment for PNG and told the players that they are now the pinnacle of the game which a lot of young players will want to emulate.

“To be part of the opening match should be a proud moment and just by going out onto the field we are now entering a new positive path to the growth of the game,” he added.

Board director Graham Osborne chimed in to say that the National Government is supporting the Hunters’ entry into this competition and told the players that they must always feel that sense of pride and ownership whenever they wear the Hunters playing gear. The officials handed over the jerseys prior to the match in Brisbane.