Despite the SP PNG Hunters claiming their first home win and second win of the season in Round 7 of the QRL Hostplus Cup after downing the Mackay Cutters 14-10, they are learning from their mistakes and vow to make improvements, especially their kicking game and preparations leading up to their matches.
Assistant Coach Paul Aiton told PNG HAUSBUNG, “There’s a drastic difference with their defence strategy played over the weekend and that proves that the team can display outstanding wins but the team just needs to work on their preparations leading to the game.
“When it starts to get to these levels, you must prepare during the week for the game. You can’t just turn up to play and we had a discussion last week and the boys recognized that and they came to play.”
Hunters Captain Ila Alu said, they had a tough 3 weeks leading up to their last match over the weekend, but with two of their boys training down-south with the NRL Dolphin’s squad its a bonus and will also give a boost to the team for this weekend’s third home game against the Ipswich Jets at Santos NFS.
“It’s a good step in the right direction for rugby league and for PNG as well. They both showed an outstanding play of rugby league over the weekend and that’s something that had a lot of input into the team.”
“Both teammates training with the Dolphins also paves a way for not only themselves but for other PNG rugby players that are coming up through the ranks and that there’s opportunities out there that they can utilize if they only commit themselves to their cause and they can see their dreams becoming a reality.”
Meanwhile, Aiton further added Hunters fullback Morea Morea has been a target for the past weeks given his skills-set displayed on the field.
“I know that there already calling his name already and he must know this. But the good thing is his aware of it. Obliviously his a very tough player and were also trying to put some weight on him, but he’s a tough kid, so em bai orait.”