sp hunters

After making the top six last season, the Hunters were knocked out in the first week of the finals after losing 18-12 to the Sunshine Coast Falcons at the National Football Stadium.

 “I didn’t expect to be named the captain for this season. But as one of the senior players in the team, it will be an honor.

“Thank you to the coach and management for your trust in me. I may be the captain but everyone in the team is a leader by their own rights.

Sports Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL), representatives from the Rugby League World Cup 2017, sponsors, stakeholders and supporters all turned up to the brew kettle at SP Brewery despite the heavy downpour to witness the event.

Managing Director of SP Brewery, Stan Joyce since the inception of the company back in 1952, SP has been a very keen supporter of rugby league in the country.

“We do that because it unites the nation in a way that no other sport does.

“This will be the beginning of what will be a very very exciting season.

Aidan Arusa, Joseph Mocke, Muka Peter Kula, and Thompson Yakumba were the four academy players pushing for a spot in the final 29-man squad that was announced yesterday.

But all agreed it was a good experience and they have come off knowing where and how they can improve as rugby league players.

While they didn’t make the final cut, they were grateful to the Hunters.

“I thought it was going to be easy after getting selected into the train-on squad, but what we were doing was very hard. It was a great experience for me training with the Hunters,” said Arusa.

The 33-man squad assembled in Port Moresby to resume pre-season training on Monday this week, after returning from their Christmas and New Year break.

Coach Michal Marum will announce the 28-man squad at the National Football Stadium at 4.30pm after training.

The Hunters will play their first game of the season against the Central Queensland Capras on Saturday, March 4, at 6pm at Browne Park, Australia.

Their first home game will be in the following week at the National Football Stadium, against the Easts Tigers, at 3pm on Sunday, March 12.

The Hunters completed week three of pre-season training up at the National Sports Institute in Goroka last week and are now on their Christmas break.

Michael Marum said he was also grateful to the Digicel Cup franchise coaches and trainers who attended the Goroka camp. He wished them well and success in the next season.

The 33-man squad will go back into camp in Port Moresby on January 3, 2017.

A 27 or 28-man squad will be finalised in the next two weeks, stated Marum.

SP Hunters coach, Michael Marum added two academy players – Joseph Mocke (Northern) and Thompson Yakumbu (Highlands) – during the Goroka camp.

The pair will join two Southern academy players Aidan Arusa and Muka Peter Kula when the Hunters pre -season training resumes in Port Moresby next week.

The nine players released after the Goroka camp were Andrew Ipi, Benjamin Hetra, Joe Frank, John Grand Arime, Mafu Kalas, Nixon Borana, Philemon Kimisive, Tau Fitzgerald and William Mone.

The Hunters spent this week training up at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province.

Hunters coach Michael Marum said the players will now go for a break with their families and return to camp in Port Moresby on January 2, 2017.

Players started flying out today to their home provinces.

Marum said the final 30-man squad will be named shortly after and will be announced once it is approved by Chairman of the PNG Rugby Football League, Sandis Tsaka. 

Hunters coach, Michael Marum said the six players – Brandy Peter, John Stanley, Kingston Paul, Mark Piti, Wersa Tenza and Wesley Vali – were released after failing to pass fitness tests.

“We had a gruelling week of training this week and unfortunately, the six players did not meet the required level of fitness and have been released.

“They will go back to their Digicel Cup teams and work that little bit harder to force their way back into the Hunters,” said Marum.

Marum will take 40 players to Goroka tomorrow (Saturday) for the final week of pre- season training.

The three year deal was made official today with the signing between Digicel Retail Director, Lorna McPherson and PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Chairman, Sandis Tsaka at the CHM building in Port Moresby.

This is the second term of the platinum agreement and marks the first time the PNGRFL has had an exclusive telecommunications partner.

‘Nothing brings people together like rugby league in PNG. Digicel is thrilled to line up beside the world’s most passionate rugby league supporters and cheer on our home grown team, the SP Hunters.

This was revealed by chairman of the PNGRFL, Sandis Tsaka in a press conference last week.

‘We are tentatively looking at scheduling two pre-season trials. One outside of PNG, and the other major one in PNG two weeks before the Intrust Super Cup season starts,” said Tsaka.

He said further details of the matches will be given by early next month.

Meanwhile, the Hunters pre-season training will start next month on December 4.  It will be carried out in Port Moresby and for the first time in Goroka and up at the LNG site at Hides.