PNG Hunters coach happy with team's progress

PNG HUNTERS coach Michael Marum is happy with how his team is progressing. He is also thankful his side left the North Ipswich Reserve relatively unscathed and can now focus on the next challenge at hand.

“Luckily we (Hunters) didn’t pick up any serious injuries from the Jets game. 

“Brandy Peter has a hamstring strain and Ase (Boas) with his left ankle were the only two concerns for us but beside them we’re in the clear for the Wynnum game,” Marum said from Kokopo yesterday.

“We’ve got a full day of recovery before we get into our training and prep for Sunday’s game.

“Brandy’s walking around but we’ll see how he goes before we make a decision. 

“Ase’s got a sore ankle but he’ll be good for this weekend.”

The 41-year-old is fast earning a reputation as an astute coach.

Television commentators Adrian Vowles and Mike Rabbitt were singing his praises after his side’s clinical 32-14 win over Queensland Cup title contenders, the Jets, who are coached by the impressive Walker brothers, Ben and Shane.   

But true to his understated nature, Marum refuses to let the conversation be about him or his coaching ability.

“It was a good all-round team effort where everyone followed the game plan and worked for each other. 

“We set some goals before the match and achieved them so it was a great effort,” Marum said.

He said the talk in Queensland heading into the match was on the Jets and how they had the style to trouble anyone and how their Round 13 (40-28) loss to the Hunters in Kokopo was only an aberration. “I think the Jets were a little over-confident. 

“Everyone was tipping them to win at home and I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. 

“I spoke to the team and told them that this was a great opportunity for us to show them how good we are and we did that.”    

On the Jets’ ball-in-hand style, Marum said it was a challenge but the game plan was executed well and the team won its 16th match of the season and maintained its top two spot.

“We knew how they were going to play and we just stuck to our guns and kept our structures and they tried hard all day but couldn’t do much.”

He said centre Noel Zeming’s boot was a big part of the plan of taking any points on offer to keep scoreboard pressure as much as slowing the pace of the game done.

“Noel played well again. Eight-from-eight and a try.

“He’s going really well.

“The plan was not to waste any opportunity. 

The Hunters are expected to fly down to Port Moresby on Friday, with the team for the round 23 clash against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls to be named today. 

The National/ PNG Today