The Mackay Cutters are preparing for a backlash in this weekend's Queensland Cup rugby league clash with the Papua New Guinea Hunters.
The Hunters suffered their first loss of the season at the Sunshine Coast Falcons on Easter Sunday, to slip to third in the overall standings.
Hunters coach Michael Marum reacted by dropping Thompson Teteh and Atte Bina from the starting line-up, and moving regular hooker Wartovo Puara to halfback.
Mackay have their own troubles, having lost all four of their matches this season.
The Mackay Cutters are winless going into their clash with the PNG Hunters. Photo: Courtesy of www.qrl.com.au
And Cutters head coach David Simpson hasn't taken much heart from their opponents first defeat.
"No I don't see it as a positive at all. I've seen a little bit of the tape from the game: it's been an untidy game, a game that stop-started and had lots of breakages because of poor play from both squads and unfortunately we're (to face) the price of that coming this weekend. Knowing their coach I'm sure he would have gone back and they would have had a very disciplined and determined week at training and we're going to have to expect a far better PNG than what I've currently seen this week."
David Simpson said his Mackay squad was still developing and is extremely young, both in age and experience, at senior level.
