sp hunters

Coach Michael Marum said those players carrying injuries/illnesses passed fitness and medical tests.

The 18 man team is:

1. Edene Gebbie
2. Junior Rau
3. Thompson Teteh
4. Adex Wera
5. Brendon Gotuno
6. Ase Boas          -              Captain
7. Watson Boas
8. Enock Maki
9. Wartovo Puara Jnr
10. Moses Meninga
11. Nixon Put
12. Willie Minoga
13. Stanton Albert

Interchange

Speaking after his side’s 12-8 loss to the Hunters at the Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday, Woolf said a team only needs to win three or four games in a row to be right back in the mix to take out the Intrust Super Cup title.

“We were aiming for our seventh win in a row, and we’re certainly in decent form, but they were able to beat us. I think they’re going to really worry some teams.

After their third consecutive win yesterday, the Hunters have now moved into 9^th place on 10 points with the top six now within reach.

Marum said the bye in round 9 was just what the Hunters needed after getting off to a rocky start to the season.

“We changed a lot of things we did wrong over the first seven weeks. I put some really strict rules in place and we went back to the drawing board.

“Most of the senior players that you see now leading the team were the ones that I pulled aside and spoke to them individually, and now they’re stepping up.

Four wins from 10 games (three at home and one away) has put the defending premiers on eight points, with a points difference of -42.

With the wind in their sails, the Hunters will be aiming to make it three consecutive wins when they take on the Townsville Blackhawks this Sunday at the Oil Search National Football Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm.

The standings after round 11:

PNGRFL CEO Reatau Rau said the live televising of the games was made possible through a partnership with SP Brewery.

“This is great news for our people,” Rau said. “On Sunday, you will be able to watch the SP Hunters take on Wynnum Manly at 3pm from Brisbane through Digicel on their TVWAN+ channel.”

Rau thanked SP Brewery for partnering with PNGRFL to bring the remaining away games live to the fans.

“This should motivate and inspire the SP Hunters players to perform better knowing that everybody in the country will be watching,” Rau added.

The only one at the press conference, Marum vented his frustrations, criticising referee Michael Gordon’s control of the match.

Marum opened up by going back to Gordon’s controversial call in the 74^th minute that saw Wawa Paul pick up a loose ball from a Wartovo Puara Jr tackle on Magpies halfback, Sam Scarlett, and run 90 metres to score.

But Gordon ruled that Puara was offside and penalised the Hunters.

It started out differently with newly appointed fullback Edene Gabbie dashing 80 metres to score and put the home side in front the first four minutes.

With Ase Boas converting, the Hunters were out to a 6-0 lead.

But the tourists responded not long after from a kick that found the hands of Marion Seve.

With the conversion successful, it was 6-6.

The Hunters muscled their way back to regain the lead through Willie Minoga, who barged through for a four-pointer.

Ase simply added the extras with ease.

Despite a good start from the Hunters, it was the home side who got on the board first through a penalty conversion from Kotoni Staggs in the 4th minute.

The Hunters continued to attack and they managed to find the try line in the 9th minute after rookie winger Junior Rau scored off a Watson Boas grubber.

Brother and skipper, Ase Boas kicked a penalty goal to push the Hunters out to 6-2.

But the Dolphins maintained their composure and struck twice in the back end of the first half to give them a 14-6 advantage at the break.

The team was finalized yesterday afternoon with coach Michael Marum naming two debutants - Patrick Morea and Junior Bobby in his final 18 that will have the mammoth task of trying to win back the Cup.

Not playing this weekend is Adex Wera and enforcer Adam Korave.

The team left for Brisbane this morning. The round six clash will kick off tomorrow at 6pm at Dolphin Stadium.

Head-to-Head: PNG 6 Redcliffe 2 Drawn 1

The Hunters only win at Redcliffe was in their first Cup match back in 2014.

The final 18:

1. Edene GABBIE

2. Junior RAU

Junior Bobby becomes Hunter No. 64 when he runs on in the starting line up on the wing in place of Brendon Gotuno who has been omitted while Morea will become Hunter No. 65 when he comes off the bench.

Edene Gabbie has been moved to fullback for the injured Adex Wera. Junior Rau shifts to the wing with Paul Wawa making a return to the starting line up in the centres.

Baundo Aba starts at prop in place of Adam Korave who has been omitted. Watson Boas will partner brother Ase in the halves. Enock Maki returns from injury and has been named on the bench.