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PNG Hunters captain Ila Alu says the recent announcement of his country’s successful bid to enter a team in the NRL in 2028 has seen even more excitement around the start of their season.
Speaking at the recent Queensland Rugby League Major Competition’s launch, Alu said the club - who won the statewide title in 2017 - also knew the importance of bringing more players through their pathways to broaden the base of talent who have the potential to feature in the future NRL side.
“Having an NRL team in PNG gives an opportunity for many young boys with their passion in rugby league to pursue their dreams another level higher than what we're playing with the Hunters now,” Alu - who also played for the Kumuls in the Pacific Championships last year - told NRL.com.
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The greatest Rugby League pipeline on earth
“I am looking forward to seeing what it will bring in the next couple of years and what is to come.
“Exciting times for the country and rugby league in general.
“(The start of the season is an) exciting time every year, we get to see new young players coming through and the level of rugby that they bring.
“Working with them, you can see their eagerness to learn with the opportunity that is given to them.
“(For our squad this year, it is) really good seeing some big boys coming in and joining the team and they will certainly help us out in the middle.
“It is exciting to see young boys coming through again for another year; it’s a bit of a challenge for them coming up here (to the Hunters from the Digicel Cup); the game up here is totally different.
“They were struggling a bit to adjust, but that's where we are, we come in and we encourage them to just keep working and whenever we're correcting them, it's just a learning curve for them to prepare them to play up at another level.
“They've all adjusted to it … it won't be perfect, but we just keep working and they will pick up a thing or two and we'll set them up for the year.”
Elsewhere in the competition, last year’s minor premiers Northern Pride have a new coach and newly-appointed captain and after suffering a preliminary final loss to Redcliffe Dolphins last season are looking to make a fresh start in 2025.
“It’s more of a fresh start for us with a new coach [Russ Aitken], a new team, so really … we have left it in the past and mainly solely focused on the present and this year,” skipper Nick Lui-Toso said.
“I had Aitken at the Dragons when I was there two years ago, so I've had experience being coached under him and he's always been a great coach and on top of that he's been a really good person.
“He's brought a lot of experience and knowledge from his past and he’s doing well with the team.
“I’m one of the senior players now, so I feel like it's part of my job to put forward what he wants for the team and get his message out.”
Pride’s captain last year Kyle Schneider has followed his coach Eric Smith to Redcliffe in 2025 and said he had quickly bonded with his new squad, with the Dolphins going down in the grand final to the Devils.
“Between us boys that came from the Pride and the boys that are existing at Dolphins, I think the biggest the thing for us is that neither of us tasted success last year," Schneider said.
"Obviously Norths got the job done and I think between all of us, we're very hungry for success this year, so we're really going to try and put that together.
“It's really good, the familiar faces help and obviously with Eric being the coach with us at Pride last year; but the team's gelling really well and we have a really good group and good bond together as well already, so I am looking forward to ripping in this year.”
For Alu and his Hunters teammates, the start to the season received a special boost following a visit from former Kangaroos, Maroons and Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith who was in the country to attend a celebration event acknowledging the NRL’s newest franchise.
“He told us to believe in what we are doing and it'll pay off when the timing is right,” Alu said.
“He said believe in the coaching staff and what is being taught and that's something that we are working on, believing in what we are doing and that will set us off for the year ahead.
“Coming from a champion player like himself, it speaks a lot of volume and it's something that we have confidence in going forward.”
*Due to the delayed arrival of Cyclone Alfred all SEQ Major Competitions games have been postponed, with all Round 1 Hostplus Cup games to be played later in the season. Full details at the QRL website.
The PNG Hunters are set to be in action in Round 2 of the Hostplus Cup when they travel to the Sunshine Coast to face the Falcons.
