Hunters coach gives Yoka a go at five-eight
Rugby League
BY KEVIN TEME
The search for a winning halves combination for the SP PNG Hunters continues.
But could the inclusion of Justin Tangue Yoka, a raw talent from Yungili village in Pangia, Southern Highlands be part of the solution?
It is one of the problems that has been pondering over SP PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum’s mind over the last couple of weeks or most probably months.
However, after contemplating he has brought in Yoka to the side for this weekend’s game.
Following the footsteps of his elder brother Felix, a former Mendi Muruks premiership winning backs, Yoka is ready for a big game after Marum named him at the starting line-up at five eight for this weekend’s game against Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Yoka replaces Charlie Simon who has been shifted back into the hooking role while halfback William Mone maintains his spot for the third consecutive game.
This will be Hunters’ second home game and a must-win is expected after two consecutive losses against Tweed Head Seagulls (10-0) in Brisbane and 24-0 against Northern Pride at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday. For 20-year-old Yoka, he knows the pressure will be on him but the quiet spoken Southern Highlander says he will do his best given the opportunity.
“The coach tried some of the halves but I thank him for giving me this opportunity and I will do my best in this weekend’s game,” Yoka said in Tok Pisin.
Despite little or no educational background, the youngster from Pangia said rugby league is all that matters and not going to school and coming direct into the Hunters program was a blessing in disguise.
Yoka played for the Western Yambi Tarangau in Pangia league and was selected to represent the association competing in the Highlands Confederate Zones Championship in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
From then on, he never looked back when selected into the Highlands Zone select side. He excelled to participate in the National Zone Conference in Port Moresby where he helped his side win the title.
Yoka was selected again but this time, directly into the 60-man train on squad for the 2019 SP PNG Hunters team. The rest is history as he looks to make his debut against the Falcons as Hunter No. 73.
“Yoka was impressive; a lot of people saw him and have been talking about him so we brought him to the side, SP PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum said.
“What we expect from him is to go out there and play and control from the right side.”
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