PNG Hunters backline reshuffled

COACH Michael Marum has reshuffled his backline giving Dion Aiye a start at five-eighth as the Papua New Guinea Hunters look for an away win over competition leaders the Northern Pride in Cairns on Sunday.
Marum said Aiye, who has played five-eighth and halfback at the representative level, would slot into the playmakers role seamlessly.
“Five-eighth is Dion’s position. The only reason he was used off the bench and as a forward was because he was working his way into the team. Israel (Eliab) has also been doing a good job for us there but he now moves to cover for Thompson (Teteh) who is out injured,’ Marum said.
Utility Jason Tali, only drafted into the Hunters squad this week, has been named on an extended bench and according to Marum will most likely play. Marum said the Hunters were looking at bringing in at least three more players from the Digicel Cup to bolster the squad as injury and 17 rounds of Queensland Cup were starting to take a toll on the side.
“We’ve got three players we’re looking at bringing in from the Digicel Cup. Brad (Tassell, Hunters CEO), is currently in talks with these franchises but I can’t say who they are until everything is confirmed,” Marum said.
The Hunters mentor hinted that the three could well be Kumuls.
“I can tell you they will be experienced players, who have represented the country. We need that big game experience as we head into the business end of the season.”
In a further blow to the Hunters forward depth prop Timothy Lomai was ruled out with a broken arm sustained against the Tigers on Saturday.
Impact forward Willie Minoga moves from the bench to start at front row as a result.
Dynamic winger Garry Lo has been given more time to recovery from an ankle injury suffered in the Mackay game and will not make the trip.
The Hunters have lost the last two games to the Mackay Cutters and Easts Tigers last week and a change of fortune is needed when they take on Pride.
It will be a tougher game against the Queensland Cup’s in-form team but the large PNG community in Cairns is expected turn up in numbers to urge the Hunters on to an upset win at 2pm on Sunday.
When the Hunters played a trial at the Barlow Park in the pre-season, a large crowd of PNG supporters attended the match.
Officials are therefore expecting a much bigger crowd and with the following that the Hunters have attracted to other venues so far in their debut season, Barlow Park’s 3200-crowd record is under threat to be broken this Sunday.
The Hunters fly direct to Cairns from Kokopo on Friday and return on Monday.
Hunters: 1 Adex Wera, 2 Garry Lo, Noel Zemming, 4 Israel Eliab ©, 5 Edward Goma, 6 Dion Aiye, 7 Roger Laka, 8 Willie Minoga, 9 Wartovo Puara, 10 Esau Siune, 11 George Benson, 12 David Loko, 13 Adam Korave, 14 Lawrence Tu’u, 15 Biuku Tiger Emere, 16 Sebastian Pandia 17 Jason Tali, 18 Brandy Peter.

PNG Today/The National