PNG Hunters Coach Stanley Tepend has confirmed that the PNG Hunters will be hosting a first trial match of the season against the Central Queensland Capras later this month (Saturday, 25 February) at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side will welcome the Rockhampton based Capras, which the visiting side is also set to featuring few of the local Papua New Guinea exports.
Though it is a lead-up match to the exciting season coming up, Tepend admitted it will be a testing ground for his new boys as well as kicking off the season at the home first.
Tepend, who is also the current PNG Kumuls mentor added even no points to take out of this warm-up match, the environment (atmosphere) including the hype, taste and match officials (referee) and the standard of the game is just like another Hostplus Cup match.
“Yes, our trial match is now scheduled on 25th of February,” Tepend told media.
“We are excited because some of our PNG boys, even though it’s a trial match, it will be their first experience and it’s good to play back at home.
“It’s been a few years now so its feel good for new boys to get themselves ready especially their mindsets ready in that sort of environment.
“It’s a trial game but referee and other environment will be just like a Hostplus Cup match so its really exciting for all of us.”
However, the former Lae Snax Tigers premiership winning coach also added that before facing the oncoming Capras, hosting a Digicel Cup franchise for an opposed-session is also on the radar.
Tepend said it will be either Central Dabaris or Port Moresby Vipers to get their lines fixed and ready for the season.
“Just to make sure we got a starting sort of combination and starting 17 before the round one.
“We use the trails to iron out and to get our combinations right especially the combinations and to show we are ready for round one,” Tepend said.
SOURCE: POST COURIER/PACNEWS
