SP PNG Hunters

They have been maintaining good attitude and high intensity throughout their field and gym sessions.

With the 12 new additions to the team this year, the competition for spots in the final 26 man squad is providing that extra push and motivation for the boys.

This year’s pre-season training camp has gone up another notch with a lot more focus on fitness, conditioning and elevating the intensity level. At the same time, the team is doing simple ball drills in attack and defensive situation which has been one of their main downfalls this year.

The ‘Growing and Supporting Rugby League in Papua New Guinea’ program assisted the Hunters in relocating to Queensland this year when COVID-19 restrictions threatened the team’s participation in the competition.

The program has been developed and supported by PacificAus Sports, backed by the Federal Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and other valuable supporters determined to help sports in the region.

When assuming his new coaching role in 2020, his first biggest challenge was the language barrier between him and the playing group, and if he was getting the right message across and whether players understood.

With majority of the players being able to speak and understand simple English, Church had to break down the sessions in simple layman’s language which players understood and were able to embrace.

Head coach, Matthew Church was particularly happy with the attitude and work ethics of the twelve new additions to the squad.

Since the start of the intensive training, the 36-man Hunters squad have not missed a beat at training keeping up with the intensity and pace.

Church is impressed with the 12 new players who he said has lifted the standard of individual players as they vie for a spot in the final line-up for the 2022 season.

They have brought back their leadership core, a powerful group of second-year players and an exciting new batch of proven Digicel Cup players in a strong 32-man tea for the 2022 season.

Hunters coach, Matt Church has today unveiled the squad, which features 20 players from the 2021 group that produced moments of brilliance during a testing season while based in Queensland.

The announcement of a 32-man training squad will be made by SP PNG Hunters Head Coach, Matthew Church, in the presence of SP PNG Hunters Board Member, Stanley Hondina and PNGRFL Chairman, Sandis Tsaka.

The team will complete its pre-season training in Port Moresby before relocating to Queensland at the end of January 2022. The current 32-man training squad will be trimmed down to 26, to travel to Australia.

When one door closes, another one opens and for outgoing Lae Snax Tigers coaching guru, Tepend said the assistant coaching job with the Hunters did not come as a surprise being initially one of the top contenders for the Hunters head coach position in 2019.

After another stellar season with the Tigers taking out his fourth premiership title for 2021, he admittedly could not knock back the offer from the PNG Hunters Board to be assistant to Matt Church at the Intrust Super Cup season 2022.

Tepend will be an assistant to Hunters coach, Matt Church, bringing his experience from nine seasons in charge of the Lae Snax Tigers including four premierships and six minor premierships.

SP PNG Hunters chairman, Stan Joyce CSM said he was delighted that Tepend would join the Hunters. 

“This is a very pleasing appointment because it adds even more experience and insights to the Hunters coaching staff,” Joyce said.

The 22-year-old is now coming to terms with the fact that he can never play rugby league again. After being away from home for the last seven months.

It was during a usual Hunters gym session on June 15 that Jokadi began feeling unwell and the paramedics quickly rushed him to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where doctors revealed he had stroke.

It was a blow to the young centre and Hunters, Jokadi remained in hospital undergoing further scans before he was rushed into surgery for a nine-hour lifesaving operation.

Players that were released where those who were in quarantine for a week at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.

Other are still in quarantine for a few more days and those players from outside centres will be sent back to their home provinces once quarantine is up.

Hunters Club Commercial Manager, Allan Moramoro said it was good to see the players reunited with their families after months of being away from home.