Gary Lo is back to PNG, wants a Hunters jumper

2014 Intrust Super Cup Top Try Scorer Gary Lo returned home yesterday morning from the United Kingdom.

Lo returned from a two (2) month preseason stint with Newcastle Thunder (formerly Gateshead) without playing a game, opting out of a verbal agreement with UK based Kumul Legend Stanley Gene to play at the club he coached.

"I made the decision to move and play in the UK, but some things did not turn out as I believed they would", Lo said upon his arrival.

Lo was met by Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko and SP Hunters Chairman Graham Osborne, both of whom he had contacted as soon as doubts were raised upon his arrival at his new club.

"I want to play for the Hunters again.

I understand that I will have to work extra hard to regain my place in the Hunters, and the trust of my coach and teammates, PNGRFL."

Minister Tkatchenko added that Lo was a special rugby league talent who had learnt the hard way.

"It is a lesson learnt for him and one that all sportsmen and women must take into account when making decisions on their careers. This experience proves to us that there is a great need in sports to make sure that we educate our players and athletes on whats best for their careers.

It is now up to him to prove himself and to Coach Michael Marum that he is committed to be at the best he can be, for the Hunters," Tkatchenko said.

Osborne shared the same sentiments adding that Minister Tkatchenko and himself had done what they could upon Lo's request and that it was now up to Lo himself and Coach Marum.

Lo had verbally agreed to a season at the Thunder in the Championship League One competition, two divisions down from the top flight Super League Competition, and wanted out and back at the Intrust Super Cup, where he scooped up the 2014 Rookie of the Year and Top Try Scorer Awards in the SP Hunters Inaugural season.