The PNG Hunters welcomed back a number of its players this week, after the recently staged Rugby League World Cup in England.
The players were allowed a couple of weeks off for recovery; and on Coach Tepend’s list are two members of the original Hunters team currently undergoing rehab.
From the six Hunters players picked for this year’s RLWC only four are back in camp. Rodrick Tai, Emmauel Waine, Sherwin Tanabi and Weza Tenza while Hunters co-Captains Keven Apo and prop Sylvester Namo have secured contracts overseas.
Today’s training session also had a few surprises.
Rugby league’s journeyman and injured Kumul flyer, Edene Gebi makes a shocking return and last man standing, Wartovo Puara Jnr from the 2017 Hunters dream team looking to earn his spot back after recovering from a hand injury in the PM’s 13 match.
Coach Tepend, although it’s only their second week at training, he’s not too carried away having big name players back in the fold, but setting standards coupled with experience and leadership at training is starting to rub in on the new players.
Tepend also revealed that one of the areas that they struggled with this season was good game management and direction in their spine.
Right now, they are negotiating with rival clubs to secure the services of an experience halves combination.
Coach Tepend said although it’s only their second week of pre-season, several players have pulled at training due to recurring injuries from the Digicel Cup games and will be released by the end of the week.