PNG Hunters wary of complacency againsts CQ Capras

THE PNG Hunters have a chance to make some headway in their for-and-against column with a big win over the Central Queensland Capras on Sunday.

The Q-Cup Round 16 clash will see the third-placed Hunters host the cellar-dwelling Capras at Kalabond, a place where Michael Marum’s men are yet to lose a match in 2015.

But Marum is not getting carried away even though his side is on an eight-match winning streak and all but assured of claiming their record-making ninth straight win. “We’re not going to take anything for granted. The Capras may be last but we’ll play what’s in front of us on the day,” Marum said.

“We’ll just concentrate on our game which is what we always do. We don’t want to talk about winning by a big margin or anything like that because the risk is my guys might switch off if they think the game is already won.”

With the Ipswich Jets being hosted by the Northern Pride and the Townsville Blackhawks-Sunshine Coast Falcons game deferred, a big win by the Hunters could see them move up to second spot.

Although the Hunters and Jets are on 24 points each, the Ipswich side enjoys a 58-point advantage in points differential and big win by the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side would help cut that deficit down.

The Hunters will be without lock Adam Korave, who paid the price for a swinging arm on Tweed Heads halfback Shaun Carney last week. The Koiari enforcer has been suspended by the Q-Cup judiciary for four matches.

Lawrence Tu’u slots into the back of the scrum while forward Nickson Borana takes up the fourth bench spot.

The Capras have only won one game in 2015 and have conceded the most number of points (532) so far this season and were thrashed 52-6 by the Jets last round.

Meanwhile, a minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off in all Q-Cup matches to honour Flacons player James Ackerman, who died on Monday after being seriously injured in a match last Saturday against the Norths Devils.

The National/PNG Today