SP PNG Hunters have been forced to make one change to their winning outfit for their
Intrust Super Cup clash with the Cutters in Mackay on Saturday night.
Second-rower and vice-captain Keven Appo will miss the game after he was suspended for
two matches following the Hunters’ win over Ipswich Jets before the competition was
paused over the Easter weekend.
The Hunters defended Appo against a shoulder charge notice and felt they presented a good
case of claiming it was a tackle gone wrong with no intent to make contact with the
shoulder. However, they were unsuccessful and he will miss this third-round clash with the
Cutters and the April 17 home match against Sunshine Coast Falcons.
It’s a minor setback for the 22-year-old from the outskirts of Goroka in PNG’s eastern
highlands, who deferred his final year science studies at university to establish himself in the
Hunters side and make the Kumuls’ squad for the upcoming World Cup. He had been in
good form and thriving in a leadership role.
His place will be taken by Emmanuel Waine who has been coming off the bench and doing a
fine job for Matt Church’s side who go into the match against the winless Mackay with their
confidence boosted by their 44-22 win against Ipswich which followed an 18-20 loss to the
unbeaten Wynnum Manly. Judah Rimbu comes on to the bench to take Waine’s spot.
“We have good depth and the boys know we have to overcome little setbacks like this and
be consistent,” Church said.
“The experience of the first two rounds has been invaluable as we didn’t know quite what to
expect with so many newcomers in the squad and the new experience of being away from
home.
“But everyone has adapted really well and this is another challenge travelling to Mackay.”
The only other player unavailable from the Hunters squad which have taken up residence at
Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast is Kumuls prop Enock Maki who is at least another two
weeks away from making his first appearance for 2021 after minor surgery to remove some
floating bone in his knee.
Maki’s return may be timely for the Hunters who will be at least five rounds into the season
when he is available. His consistent go-forward and rugged defence will be a boost in what
will be a challenging year for the squad which is based at Runaway Bay for the 2021 season
because of COVID.
The Hunters will enter this weekend in fifth place while the Cutters are 12th following an
opening home loss to Redcliffe and then a losing away trip to the Burleigh Bears. The plane
flight to Mackay will be the Hunters’ first trip away from Runaway Bay, where Church said
the team had prepared well.