PNG Hunters eye 2015 Queensland Cup finals
The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side will take on the South Logan Magpies in the opening round of the new season on March 7.
The Queensland Rugby League released the Q-Cup 2015 draw last Wednesday with several blockbuster clashes scheduled for the opening weekend from March 7-8.
Tsaka said despite a torrid debut season for the national franchise the side had been well-prepared by Marum and his staff and would have learned from their 2014 experience.
“Last season was tough. It was the SP Hunters’ inaugural season where they just missed out on a finals place by a point so they know what’s in store for 2015,” Tsaka said yesterday.
“They’ve been working hard and I think they’ll be better for it.”
The honeymoon is over for the Hunters, who won 14 matches in 2014, but missed out on finals spot, finishing sixth on 33 points.
The Hunters were involved in some of the Q-Cup’s most entertaining matches with their biggest win a Round 21 56-12 thrashing of the Burleigh Bears in Kokopo and thrilling 43-36 win over the Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 15 at home as well.
The Hunters suffered a 60-28 loss away to the Tweed Heads Seagulls in Round 19 for the players to experience the highs and lows of their first year. Their hopes of going a step further in 2015 will rest on the core group made up of last season’s captain Israel Eliab, playmakers Dion Aiye and Roger Laka, forward leaders Esau Siune and Sebastian Pandia.
With the loss of some top line talent in Wartovo Puara Jr, Thompson Teteh and Stanton Albert to the National Rugby League and the departure of star winger Gary Lo and centre Jason Tali to England, Marum’s men will face a big challenge repeating their 2014 form next year.
Defending Q-Cup premiers and NRL State Champions, Northern Pride – a team the Hunters beat in the preseason but could not best during the regular season – play Easts Tigers in the Sunday afternoon television match live on Channel 9.
Round 1 intensity lifts another notch when competition newcomers Townsville Blackhawks, with a host on former NRL stars including Kumuls captain Neville Costigan, host the Mackay Cutters in an historic northern derby between two of the North Queensland Cowboys’ feeder teams.
Crowd favourites, the Hunters face the Magpies, whom they thrashed twice in 2014 (42-12 in Rd 14 and 44-14 in Rd 25) at Davies Park, in Brisbane.
The Hunters return to preseason training on January 6, where Marum is expected to retain his offseason 25-man training squad.
The Hunters’ home ground will continue to be Kalabond Oval, with the former Lloyd Robson Oval and other venues in Port Moresby not expected to be complete to host Q-Cup matches until after July.
Hunters squad: Adex Wera, Adam Korave, Brandy Peter, Edward Goma, Israel Eliab, Lawrence Tu’u, Noel Zemming, Roger Laka, Sebastian Pandia, Timothy Lomai, Willie Minoga, Dion Aiye, Esau Siune, George Benson, Kato Ottio, Henry Wan, Enoch Maki, David Lapua, Stargoth Amean, Warren Glare, Atte Bina Wabo, Ase Boas, Jay Jay Garison, Bland Abavu, Philemon Kimisive.
Q-Cup 2015: Kick off March 7-8, 25 Rounds, 11 Home and 11 Away matches each, Two Byes, Top six finals series.
PNG Today/The National
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