SP PNG Hunters Buoyed By Backline Strength
SP PNG Hunters hope to begin a mid-season charge with the return of key backline combinations for Saturday’s Intrust Super Cup clash with Mackay Cutters at Bycroft Oval.
Winger Brendon Gotuno is among the returning players, three months after he broke his arm in the opening minutes of the last clash between the Hunters and the Cutters in Mackay.
The Hunters overcame Gotuno’s injury to sizzle through three tries in 14 minutes in one of the best passages of football since they arrived at their Gold Coast base for the 2021 season.
Since then, the Hunters have dealt with an unlucky injury run that has tested their depth away from home. They’re now waiting with other teams to see if the Queensland Government will lift a COVID lockdown at 6pm tomorrow night to enable Round 12 of the competition to proceed.
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The Cutters are standing by a bold selection move ahead of the Wynnum clash on Saturday, with captain Ross Bella to start on the bench.
Bella has come off the bench the past two rounds in the Intrust Super Cup and despite playing well he has not been brought back into Mackay’s starting line-up.
Cutters coach Michael Crawley said Bella’s last two weeks had been his best for the season.
“The couple of games that Ross has had off the bench have been his best games of the year, and I think it’s working for him at the moment,” Crawley said.