By GABRIEL KATUHO
HUNTERS will miss the electric five eight Joshua Lau including Valentine Richard, but Coach Aiton has the perfect replacement for the preliminary final showdown this Sunday.
Aiton mentioned this after a training season at the Santos National Football Stadium (NSF) in Port Moresby earlier this week.
“Unfortunately, Joshua Lau has sustained an ACL tear so he will be out for some time,” the coach said.
Aiton said Lau might miss the pre-season beginning next year as well, possibly from April to May.
“It’s unfortunate for him because Lau was a good player who has been playing well,” he said.
“Finley Glare, who has been playing in that position for us before in some of the big games, will step in to assist.
“He is young but he is a very good player, so, he is a good feed for us.”
Aiton emphasized that Finley is a perfect match for Joshua Lau and will combine with Jamie Mavoko to run the game.
The Coach said Finley will not play like Joshua Lau but he will play the way he plays.
Aiton is confident that the pack will bring the best outcome in the preliminary finals against the North Devils in the Queensland Host Plus Cup Preliminary finals in Australia on Sunday.
He said the boys will stick to their game plan to maintain consistency.
Valentine Richard also will miss out due to injury but the boys are happy to have Koso Bandi, Junior Rop, Benji Kot, Anthony Vorot, Whallen Tau-Loi and Captain Ila Alu to executive the mission.
Jordan Patt, Alex Max and Manase Kai also returned to the squad and Aiton is confident the boys will make it through.
“We have fans in here and Australia so we are happy they will come and support,” Aiton said.
The head coach is expecting a tough game; however, he is confident to keep his side running hard.
As the game falls on the eve of 49th independence, Aiton said the Hunters will play with pride and return on Monday to celebrate Independence with the families.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hondina congratulated the Hunters for making it to the preliminary finals and wished them good luck.
