SP Hunters coach

For the first time, the coaching staff has decided to retain 31 players for the Intrust Super Cup competition.

They started off with 60 members in the train-on squad last year.

The team was eventually trimmed down to 32 players, who resumed pre-season training on January 7^th.

Despite the initial announcement of further cutting down to a final squad of 25 or 26, coach Michael Marum opted instead to retain 31 players, which is by far the largest number since the club’s inception in 2014.

SP Hunters coach Michael Marum said the 32 players will return to camp on Sunday in Port Moresby. “In consultation with the coaching staff, we are now trimming the squad to those players who can fill the positions and sustain a long season,” Marum said.

To those players that have been released, Marum said: “We have given them programs to continue training and have advised them on areas they need to improve on.

“We hope that they share what they have experienced in the Hunters program with their respective clubs and continue to improve and better their standards.”

There have been worrying signs for the Hunters captain who has been in pre-season training wearing a cast on his right hand.

“He had an accident in Kokopo after the Rugby League World Cup. His doctor has been working with him and will probably remove the cast this week and hopefully he (Ase) can start doing his contact work next week,” said Marum.

Marum added there is still time for Boas to recover before next month’s trial match against the Brisbane Broncos on the 24^th at the National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.

The shy 21 year old Western Highlander played a hand in the win scoring one of the five tries in the Kumuls 32-22 triumph over the Cook Islands.

Put made his debut back in 2014 playing on the wing for the Mt. Hagen Eagles in the Digicel Cup competition.

2016 saw him shift into playing second-rower and after a stellar performance in the semi-professional competition, he got the nod from SP Hunters coach, Michael Marum.

 “I always prepare to slay my targets in every game and making it into the SP Hunters was one of my dreams.

Speaking at a press conference after yesterday’s 18-12 loss to the Sunshine Coast Falcons, Marum put it down to ball handling errors and failing to complete sets.

“We prepared well all week but like I said, the better team on the day won.

“In saying that, we probably had too much confidence after last weekend’s game. During the week, one or two players kept falling offline and we had to pull them back in.

“But that’s football, there’s one winner and one loser, so congratulations to the Falcons and all the best this week in Townsville,” said Marum.