PNG Hunters face Tweed Heads Seagulls in Kokopo

PAPUA New Guinea Hunters goal-kicking ace Noel Zemming has been given up to match day to make the team against the Tweed Heads Seagulls in their Round 7 rugby league match in Kokopo today.

The Seagulls are coming off a gutsy 12-8 away win over reigning Queensland Cup champions Mackay Cutters last week while the Hunters fell 25-12 to a determined Ipswich Jets.

Zeming, who is the side’s best goal kicker, is hoping to prove his fitness after a groin injury kept him out of training earlier in the week.

He managed to complete training yesterday without any problems and coach Michael Marum said he would be given time make the side.

“Zemming trained today (yesterday) and has recovered well from a groin injury,” Marum said.

“He will be seeing the doctor this afternoon so we will wait and see if he can make the team but he told me he is good to go and that is good enough for us.

“We need him in the team.”

Marum said apart from Zemming the rest of the team was all fit and ready and the return of centre Thompson Teteh for this match is a huge plus.

“I’m telling the boys to concentrate on their own game and stick to our own game plan and not look at how the opposition is playing and try to match it up. There are a couple of NRL players in this competition so it is better we concentrate on our own games, hold onto to the ball and be consistent.”

The Hunters’ have a 3-2-1 record and have dropped from second place after their round three 46-14 thumping of Central Queensland Capras to seventh place after last week’s 25-12 loss to Ipswich Jets.

Marum said it was a must-win home game for the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored team and would give the side a psychological lift after going three games without a win.

The other notable change to the line-up sees five-eighth Dion Aiye slot into lock while captain Israel Eliab shifts back from centre to a play-making role in the No.6 jersey.

The Seagulls, who are in 10th spot with two wins from six matches, will look to former North Queensland Cowboys winger Kalifa Fai Fai Loa to spark their attack but Marum gave the impression his side were ready for something special on home soil.

Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Jamal Fogarty 2. Tom Merritt 3. Luke Dumas 4. Blake Anderson 5. Kalifa Fai Fai Loa 6. Michael Burgess 7. Sam Irwin 8. Damian Sironen 9. Matt King (c) 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Cody Nelson 12. Cory Blair 13. Tom Kingston. Interchange: 14. Zac Friend 15. Sam Saville 16. Paul Stephenson 17. Reg Saunders 18. Matthew Parata.

PNG SP Hunters: 1. Adex Wera 2. Garry Lo 3. Thompson Teteh 4. Albert Patak 5. George Benson 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Roger Laka 8. Timothy Lomai 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Gonzela Urakusie 11. David Loko 12. Sebastian Pandia 13. Dion Aiye. Interchange: 14. Noel Zemming 15. Willie Minoga 16. Lawrence Tu’u 17. Adam Korave 18. Brandy Peter 19. Edward Goma 20. Esau Siune.

Round 7 Fixtures: Saturday – PNG Hunters vs Tweed Heads Seagulls, Northern Pride vs Easts Tigers, Central Queensland Capras vs Norths Devils, Wynnum-Manly Seagulls vs Sunshine Coast Falcons; Sunday – Burleigh Bears vs Mackay Cutters, Redcliffe Dolphins vs Souths LoganMagpies. Bye: Ipswich Jets