The SP PNG Hunters resumed block 2 of their preseason training on Monday, January 6th, 2024, after concluding block 1 of the preseason training and having a two-week break during the festive period.
The bulk of the 2024 squad retained their spots while a couple of new faces have joined the team, adding versatility to the pack. A 30-man roster will be finalized before the 2025 season commences.
Under the mentorship of coach Paul Aiton last season, the Hunters made it to the preliminary final and shied away from reaching the decider, ending their 2024 campaign on a bittersweet note.
The SP Brewery-sponsored franchise had a tough block 1 preseason and anticipates a challenging block 2 preseason, as coach Paul Aiton highlighted the training schedule of the team.
“We have a 39-man squad. It’s been a roller-coaster preseason, where we’ve had 14 players not available or injured, so there’s quite a lot of players. It’s bad but there’s an opportunity for the new boys who have come in to pick up that slack,” Aiton said.
“It’s good to see the boys. It’s only two weeks, but you kind of missed them because you spent a lot of time together. We are a Hunters’ family, so I think everyone was happy to get back to training.
“All of them came back in shape, though a couple of them were out of shape, which means they looked after themselves when they were away from footy, so that’s important for us.”
Aiton revealed that a couple of internal or friendly matches with one or two Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup teams would be arranged to see the fitness level of the players before a final 30-man squad is selected.
The Hunters feature a mixture of seasoned campaigners and emerging talents, which is good for Aiton and his coaching staff, as they look forward to starting round 1 of the 2025 Hostplus Cup season in March.
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