The coach of the Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team says players have dropped their standards and are still living off the memory of last year's championship success.
The Hunters slumped to a second straight Intrust Super Cup defeat at the weekend, beaten 24-10 away to Sunshine Coast Falcons, in a replay of last year's grand final match-up.
Head coach Michael Marum said the Falcons were the better side on the day.
"We didn't perform. We went in first half, first 10-15 minutes we were into the game until they scored their first try and then we allowed two other tries after that," he said.
"They were taking revenge on us after the grand final loss last year."
PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Melvin Levongo
Michael Marum said, after lifting the title in 2017, every team wants to knock them off and the players need to lift their game.
"The players have been slacking off on a few things - really really small things - that we've been emphasising a lot on doing in pre-season and also before leading up to all our games already," he said.
"The players have to focus on the football this year. They're probably still thinking about the win last year and how good they were.
"It's a different game again this year and everyone comes in and wants to do well against us."
The Hunters host Tweed Heads Seagulls in Port Moresby this weekend, who beat them home and away last season.
