'Footy is everything for me': Behind Wabo's rise with Hunters

Season 2024 has been a breakout year for PNG Hunters gun, Sanny Wabo.

The explosive fullback has filled the shoes of Morea Morea – who has struggled this year in his return from a serious ankle injury – with apparent ease, bringing his own brand of attacking prowess and defensive grit to the club’s No.1 jersey.

But for Wabo, cementing that spot this year had nothing to do with personal goals or proving his worth or chasing bigger dreams beyond Hostplus Cup.

For Wabo, it was all to do with family.

From a young age, everything in Wabo’s life has connected back to his family and now, as a father-of-one, he knows how important his career is in supporting his loved ones.

“A very important part of me this year is my family,” the 25-year-old said.

“My family, my wife and my daughter, they helped me.

“My wife has come over from Lae and to Port Moresby to stay with me. Training and going home to see my daughter and my wife, that motivates me and gives me strength and they are the reason behind my joy and to maintain the sport.

“Footy becomes my future, footy provides for me and makes everything for me.

“My grandparents… I see them coming to training. I’m the one that provides for them and puts the food on the table. I’m the one who contributes back home.

“Footy is everything for me so when it comes to footy, I need to work hard every day.”

Wabo grew up in Port Moresby, following in the footsteps of his older cousin – a cousin he sees more as a big brother.

Wherever his brother went, Wabo followed closely behind.

“We grew up in the same house and I was a small kid and would watch him training with the big boys,” Wabo said.

“I used to look up to my brother and he used to play so I decided to follow his footsteps and play like him.

“I used to ask him about footy. He used to tell me that when I grow up bigger, I need to chase footy because footy is a nice sport.

“He encouraged me with the footy so I decided to play.”

Dubbed ‘the whiz kid’ by commentators in Papua New Guinea, it was fortuitous that Wabo listened to his big brother.

He came through the ranks in his home country, playing schoolboys rugby league and in local competitions before signing with the Lae Snax Tigers in the top tier competition in 2019.

In 2023, Wabo made the final squad for the PNG Hunters and he debuted in Round 3, going on to play eight games in his rookie season.

This year, he knew it was his chance to push for that No.1 jersey.

While his big brother set him on the path to chase rugby league and make it his career, the biggest influence on how Wabo plays the game is a player he idolised growing up – former Sydney Roosters fullback, Anthony Minichiello.

He gave Wabo the confidence that, no matter your size, you can go to the highest levels of the game.

“I used to watch NRL and I used to really admire Anthony Minichiello,” he said.

“We are same height and same weight so I used to watch his highlights and watch his games. He’s my role model.

“I used to like watching Anthony because he’s a small size like me and he’s always putting his body on the line. That’s something that gives me confidence.

“He’s the same size like me, same weight like me, but he always put his body on the line.”

That is how Wabo likes to play his footy now and a tactic that will be crucial this Sunday when the Hunters travel to the Sunshine Coast to take on the Falcons for a spot in this year’s preliminary finals.

The last time the two teams met, the Falcons defeated the Hunters 66-8, so Wabo said the key for the Hunters this weekend is to stay true to themselves.