Hunters name squad

The National Sports
Boas, Lo and Wigmen’s Waine among 40 for pre-season camp

THE Hunters begin pre-season training today with a 40-man squad boasting the likes of experienced campaigner Ase Boas, Garry Lo, Rhadley Brawa, Central Dabaris playmaker Allan Simbiri and Hela Wigmen‘s Emmanuel Waine.
New coach Mathew Church met his South Pacific Brewery-backed squad for the first time over the weekend ahead of today’s medical checks to kick off preparations for the Queensland Intrust Super Cup (ISC) season.
The side will be without skipper Moses Meninga, who has signed a one-year deal with the Townsville Blackhawks.
They will also be without McKenzie Yei, who is understood to have joined the Central Queensland Capras for next season.
Meninga, who scored nine tries in 55 appearances for the Hunters, was arguably the club’s most consistent performer last season – the side’s worst campaign since their 2014 debut.
Former skipper Boas and forward Enoch Maki are the frontrunners for the captaincy as the side look to rediscover the form that earned them the minor premiership and ISC title in 2017.
Church, who was appointed as Michael Marum’s successor last Tuesday, said test players Stanton Albert, Maki, Terry Wapi, Stanford Talita and Lo would join the pre-season camp in the New Year.
“The rest of the squad will assemble in Port Moresby over the weekend and begin training on Monday,” the former Sunshine Coast Falcons assistant coach said.
Squad: Junior Rau, Stanton Albert, Baundo Aba, Ila Alu, Dilbert Isaac, Enock Maki, Patrick Morea, Ase Boas, Gairo Kapana, Epel Kapinias, Shane Haro, Kevin Appo, Junior Rop, Joe Frank, Brendan Nima, Nick Hasu, Justin Yoka, Jerry Teme, Woods Kawage, Roy Ellison, Terry Wapi, Smith Siviri, Sailas Gahuna, Willie Minoga, Garry Lo (Hunters), John Stanley, Alan Simbiri (Central Dabaris), Gilmo Paul, Emmanuel Waine, Stanford Talita (Hela Wigmen), Francis Takai, Solomon Pukari (Rabaul Gurias), Sani Wabo, Mark Piti, Charlie Simon, Joe Joshua (Lae Tigers), Messac Wallen (Mendi Muruks), Stanley Olo (Pom Souths), Benji Kot (Gulf Isou), Rhadley Brawa (Wynnum Manly).