SP PNG Hunters

The Hunters are midway through the second week of pre-season training in Port Moresby.

Hunters coach Michael Marum said that 2 players had withdrawn due to work commitments while the other 4 had failed tests during training.

 “The boys are all mixing around well and we’re looking to finish off another good week before we enter week 3 of pre-season training,” said Marum.

He  indicated that the final squad for 2016 will be named by the end of this month.

 Koim accused of contempt of court

http://www.looppng.com/content/koim-accused-contempt-court

The Prime Minister’s lawyers involved in the review proceeding of NEC’s decision to abolish the Task Force Sweep are accusing Sweep chairman Sam Koim of contempt and subjudice.

Senior Simbu police officer in hiding

Hunters coach Michael Marum said players will go into camp starting on the 22^nd of this month.

Marum said that a squad of 40 players had put been put together and would undergo 6 weeks of pre-season training.

He said from there, the Hunters team will be finalized for 2016.

The Hunters finished in third place last season after going down to the 28-12 Ipswich Jets in the preliminary final.

The Jets went to on to win the Intrust Super Cup grand final.

The Blackhawks came out firing in the second half and knew who to go putting Zac Santo away to dash 30 metres to beat fullback Stargroth Amean to score his third try for the game.

Robert Lui’s conversion attempt was nowhere near the post, missing to put his side in front at 18-6.

With 25 minutes to go, the Hunters replied immediately when Ase Boas threw an inside ball to Adam Korave who stepped right and left and wrestled his way over the line to ground the ball.

Utility Noel Zemming added the extra two points to narrow the deficit to six points.

The Hunters management announced that outer stand ticket holders will gain access to the stadium from the Port Moresby In-service College with eight queues.

For the grandstand ticket holders, they will enter the stadium from the gate opposite Vision City.

 “The public is being advised to buy tickets from Stop-N-Shop outlets only to avoid counterfeit tickets sold on the streets as scanning devices have been upgraded for this game,” said the Hunters management.

The gates will open at 11am with kick off scheduled for 2:30pm.

Playing away at Mackay Stadium, all the possession was with the Cutters who more than once looked certain to score in the opening minutes.

The Cutters crossed over the line after 7 minutes when Josh Chudleigh dummied, ducked and reached over to land the ball over the line.

A successful conversion put the Cutters in front at 6-0.

A few penalties in their favour got the Hunters going as they worked their way down into Cutters' territory.

The round 24 clash will see utility Noel Zeming brought back into the centres after being rested last weekend.

Ase Boas will be rested with Atte Bina expected to take his place and start at halfback with Roger Laka on the bench to share the responsibilities.

Nickson Borana will take the field in the run on side as he joins Kato Ottio in the back row.

The Hunters will arrive in Port Moresby on Thursday from Kokopo and fly to Cairns the same day. They then board a bus for the 12 hour drive to Mackay.

The team:

But this all depends on favourable results.

The Hunters are still in second place on 39 points. Newcomers, Townsville Blackhawks who are also on 39 points,  continue to hold first spot on the ladder.

The two teams are only separated by points for and against with the Blackhawks on 476 compared to the Hunters on 211.

The Hunters will play the 8^th placed   Mackay Cutters this weekend and then the 9^th placed Burleigh Bears the weekend after which is the last game before the finals.

It happened in front of a crowd of more than 15, 000 at the Sir John Guise stadium this afternoon.

Trailing 13-6 at half time, the Hunters came back strongly to leave the Seagulls scoreless in the second 40 minutes.

The Hunters began their assault in the 55^th minute of play when a penalty saw captain Israel Eliab opt to go for the two points.

The ball was given to kicker Ase Boas who converted to put his team within five points of the Seagulls lead.

Seagulls lead 13-6 at half time.

But the fumbling and penalties given away in the first half became just a bad memory as the home team got their act going and ran in 30 points to nothing in the second half.

“Freight Train’’ Willy Minoga starred with busting runs up the middle and the rest of the team shared in the points barrage late in the game.

More to come from Troy Taule soon.