PNG Hunters set for Round 9 clash against Redcliffe Dolphins

The Papua New Guinea SP Hunters are set for Round 9 of the Intrust Super Cup match against second placed Redcliffe Dolphins. The game will be play at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday afternoon. A crowd of well over 10 000 is expected to turn up to watch the Hunters battle with the Dolphins. 

Despite having 10 players from  the Hunters side named to play for Papua New Guinea next week;s Pacific Test against Fiji Batis,  Hunters coach Michael Marum,, is expecting nothing more than  100 per cent from his charges.

The Hunters will be looking to amend their close lose to Burleigh Bears 20 -18 last week and come up with a win this time. 

“It’s an important game for us. We’ll have the bye after that but a good number of the players will be involved in the Pacific Test against Fiji so we want to get this win out of the way first,”  Coach Michael Marum  told the media.

“I want all the guys to give their best for this game. 

“Everyone should give 100 per cent even if they’ve been named in the Kumuls team. 

“It makes no difference.

“We have to win this match to stay in touch with the top sides.”

The Hunters are in third place on the Q-Cup standings but a win, as well as one by competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks over the Bears, would see them regain second place.

The Dolphins beat the Easts Tigers 28-26 last round. The Dolphins are coming with NRL experienced players in the likes of  fullback Luke Capewell, centre Aaron Whitchurch and bench forward Anthony Cherrington.

For the home side, Timothy Lomai, who played well in the loss the Bears scoring a try and pulling of some great covering tackles in inside runners, has been named in the second-row while Enock Maki finds a spot on the bench with Marum opting for size and power up front while Kumul winger Stargroth Amean is the 18th man.

Thetwo teams are playing for the Stan Joyce Cup in honour of the Hunters’ first Q-Cup match which was against the Dolphins in 2014.

The match kicks off at 3pm with tickets being sold at all Big Rooster outlets in the city. The match will be broadcast live on TV WAN Rugby.

SP PNG Hunters: 1. Adex Wera 2. Bland Abavu 3. Noel Zeming (c) 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Justin Olam 6. Ase Boas 7. Watson Boas 8. Esau Siune 9. Wartovo Puara Jr 10. Henry Wan 11. Timothy Lomai  12. Adam Korave (c) 13. Brandy Peter; Reserves: 14. Warren Glare 15. Enock Maki 16. Ben

Redcliffe Dolphines:

1. Luke CAPEWELL, 2.RW Evander CUMMINS 3. Aaron WHITCHURCH 4. Daniel RANDALL 5.  Thomas OPACIC 6. Zach STRASSER6

7 Darren NICHOLLS 8 Samuel ANDERSON 9 Shane PUMIPI  10 Tyson ANDREWS  11 Joseph BRADLEY 12 Johnnie FOX  13. Christopher GESCH 14 Charlie FAINGAA

 15 Anthony HERRINGTON, 16 Christian HAZARD 17 Jack AHEARN 18 Rulon NUTIRA

COACH Adam Mogg