Sport: PNG Hunters to hold team meeting following scoreless start

3:55 pm on 18 March 2019

The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team will hold a team meeting on Monday after failing to score a point in either of their two matches so far this season.

The 2017 Intrust Super Cup winners were thrashed 24-0 by Northern Pride at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday.

The result follows a 10-0 defeat away to Tweed Heads Seagulls in the opening round of the season.

The 2019 PNG Hunters squad.

The 2019 PNG Hunters squad. Photo: Facebook/SP PNG Hunters

Coach Michael Marum admitted their attacking game in a major concern.

"I'm really disappointed with the effort yesterday. I thought out forwards went good but again the halves (struggled) and the conditions are now excuse," he said.

"We're struggling with our spine now. A lot of people see it but our problem is this is the best players from the Digicel Cup competition (in PNG) that we've brought it so that's supposed to be the next group of players that we'll be picking from.

"We just have to be patient with them and make sure to give them a bit more time, I think, but this year is not about finals - we are building the side again - so hopefully they get to play well together really soon."

PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum.

PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo

Charlie Simon and William Mone have been tasked with replacing the Boas brothers, Watson and Ase, in the Hunters halves this season and Marum admitted the duo still have a lot to learn about leading their teammates around the field.

"I've thought about looking around again. Our problem is some of these boys they can't control the team around them - inside the field they don't talk too much.

"Intrust Super Cup is going to get tougher this season as the games go on so this is the time all the teams are still trying out all their new players and if it means for us, for these young boys to be competitive they need to start playing their game and start leading so at the moment I've got a question mark on most of them now."

Michael Marum said players are trying to do too much with the ball in hand and are possibly being weighed down by pressure from family and Hunters fans.

He said everyone will get a chance to express their views and concerns at a team meeting to be held on Monday afternoon.

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