The 2018 PNG Hunters squad has gathered for its first preseason training camp this week, fresh off a successful 2017 campaign.
Forty-four players have been named in the squad with former captain Adam Korave returning after a year off and 19 premiership winning players backing up from this season.
PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum. Photo: RNZI / Melvin Levongo
There are also 24 new faces, including Lae Snax Tigers captain Charlie Simon, and Agmark Guria captain Stanley Olo.
Israel Wari from Central and Joseph Singura of Madang make the squad after both were spotted at a local 9s tournament and there are a number of academy players in contention for the final 30 man squad that will be named at the end of January.
Hunters coach Michael Marum said it would be a challenge finding the right mix as the team tries to repeat its championship winning feat of 2017.
"The new players that are coming in, it's going to be tough coming up next year but we had a look at some new players that we will probably add to our net goal and allow for some young talent to come through," Marum said.
"We will try to have a good mix of young and old players."
Maru said that the Hunters' goal will be to win a second consecutive Queensland Cup.
Although he admitted it wouldn't be easy.
"Not a lot of teams have won back-to-back premierships but that's our goal.
"With the players that we have got we will try and work together and make sure we achieve that goal at the end of the year," Marum said.
First thing's first though, with fitness initially taking priority.
"The boys that have been coming together, they haven't played or haven't done any sort of training for the past seven to eight weeks so that's something that we need to clean up in the system," Marum said.
"We need to make sure and get them started on the fitness and eventually when we come back in we will do more technical stuff with the ball and get focussed on game stuff."
Ten players who had been part of the PNG Kumuls World Cup squad will join the camp next month.
Adam Korave has returned to the Hunters after a season off Photo: SP Hunters
