We are fortunate to be competing in 2021

Hello everyone, welcome to the sixth ‘Churchie’s Comments’ for the year in your favourite rugby league newspaper — The National.
Well, the SP Hunters are back and so great to be able to be doing what we love.
We understand we are fortunate to be able to be competing in 2021.
Many thanks must go to Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman Sandis Tsaka, board members and chief executive Stanley Hondina for providing the Hunters separation to meet Intrust Super Cup competition participation agreement.
This ensures the programme competes into the future and aligns with world sport.
Thanks also to the new Hunters chairman and board for their vision in also assisting with this for our players and staff.
It is also a huge win, adding the business acumen of all the members of the board to grow the Hunters brand.
At times, having this relocation work ahead of us, it seemed like we might not get here to Queensland.
I know I sat in some meetings that no other head coach was going through.
We had no reference point or any previous experience in what we were about to undertake.
Tsaka once remarked: “It’s like flying to the moon for the first time.”
We knew we had the backing and support of both boards.
But Hondina was instrumental in our meetings with stakeholders across both countries.
We also spent many hours together, before isolation, working hard on this and pushing forward to make this happen.
I’m not sure it was as simple as flying to the moon…… I feel like Hondina and I made the space suits, built the rocket then learnt how to fly it to the moon.
Thanks Hondina for your help and guidance and to keep this a possibility for our people. We are forever in your debt.
Much has been made of our journey and disrupted preseason.
I did feel it was like a win just being able to be ready for round one.
We are fully aware of what’s happening back home and want you all to be happy with our efforts and hope that the Hunters can bring some normality for a couple of hours each week.
To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after 31 days in isolation without any contact training.
I just wanted our boys to play with heart and effort. To put themselves in contention against a quality Wynnum side would be a good feat.
To have the game in the balance in the dying minutes will be something I will remember for my coaching lifetime. By far, my proudest moment as Hunters coach.
Congratulations to debutants Jokadi Bire, Samuel Yegip, Benji Kot, Sylvester Namo, Edwin Ipape and Judah Rimbu and also our returning Hunters players in Watson Boas and Wartovo Puara Jr. I thought the whole performance of the team was a great start to the season.
There is plenty of work to be done around our game, game management and kicking game.
We always knew that we’d be nowhere near the finished product to start the year.
To mark their respect towards our boys, the Wynnum captain gathered his team post game to thank the Hunters players for their sacrifice.
Their coach and chief executive also offered their encouraging thoughts to me after the game.
Until next week, stay safe, play safe and let’s all respect and be kind to each other.

Cheers
Matt