The Papua New Guinea Hunters have selected a 32 man preliminary squad to contest the 2022 Intrust Super Cup rugby league competition.
The PNG Hunters will return to Queensland in 2022. Photo: Vanessa Hafner / QRL
It will be the second straight season the squad has based itself in Queensland because of Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Hunters coach Matt Church has retained 20 players from last season's playing squad, including incumbent captain Ila Alu, vice-captain Keven Appo and the Hunters' most capped player Wartovo Puara Jnr.
2021 rookies Samuel Yegip, Edwin Ipape, Sylvester Namo and Benji Kot are back for a second season in Australia, while there are 12 new caps, including six from Digicel Cup champions Lae Snax Tigers.
Lae Snax Tigers defeated Waghi Tumbe in the 2021 Digicel Cup final. Photo: Facebook/Lae Snax Tigers
The squad will be trimmed to 26 players in January before the Hunters depart for Queensland.
"We are proud of this squad and excited about the prospects ahead of them in 2022," said Hunters chair Stan Joyce CSM.
"We have spent the off-season making key off-field signings in coach Matt Church and assistant Stanley Tepend and now we can confirm a preliminary squad that has exciting potential across the field.
"This squad blends some of our established and proven Hunters players with some of our best prospects. We're looking forward to the season."
Church has been working with the new players in the squad in Port Moresby during this week's first week of pre-season training, alongside fellow coaches Tepend and Paul Aiton.
"I'm really excited to be back in PNG and in front of the group and welcoming the new players and staff to the Hunters," he said.
"I look forward to the returning players arriving and building on our experience together as a group."
Papua New Guinea Hunters coach Matt Church. Photo: Supplied
"We've had the new players in this week, they are all aware that they are competing for spots in the final squad. I'm happy to say they are working hard and are keen to learn," Church explained.
"A number of players have been impressive in working hard, being consistent, preparing for the rigours of preseason and making sure their bodies are right to get the most out of every session.
"While it is only week one of our season, we have set a higher bar this year. Our preseason intensity is harder, we will ask more of our players and staff and we will quickly find out who wants to earn the right to be a Hunter."
PNG Hunters preliminary squad:
Terry Wapi; Solo Wane; Brendan Nima; Gilimo Paul; Judah Rimbu; Ila Alu; Samuel Yegip; Sylvester Namo; Dilbert Isaac; Jordan Pat; Keven Appo; Emmanuel Waine; Wartovo Puara; Norman Brown; Brendon Gotuno; Junior Rau; Benji Kot; Epel Kapinias; Solomon Pokare; Edwin Ipape; Jesse Matthew (Waghi Tumbe); Liam Joseph (Agmark Gurias); Roderock Tai (Lae Snax Tigers); Mark Tony (Lae Snax Tigers); Jamie Mavoko (Lae Snax Tigers); Valentine Culligan (Hela Wigmen); Casey Dickson (Lae Snax Tigers); Tony Worrot (Kimbe Cutters); Kitron Laka (Lae Snax Tigers); Sherwin Tanabi (Lae Snax Tigers); Francis Kembis (Waghi Tumbe); Nathan Tente (Agmark Gurias).