BLACKHAWKS TURN IT ON

TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne believes the switch to a more freeflowing attacking style has been the catalyst for their sensational Queensland Cup form after thumping the PNG Hunters 48-18 at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday.

The Blackhawks ran in eight tries while goalkicker Shaun Nona was perfect with the boot as they brought up seven straight wins for just the second time in the club’s history.

It came after the Blackhawks also thrashed the Northern Pride 60-6 three weeks ago and Payne said the coaching staff had made a concerted effort to sharpen their attack.

“I think we’re certainly attacking a lot better than we were at the start of the year,” he said.

“I’ll take some of the blame there. We were probably a little bit too structured. As coaching staff we sat down and identified how we could be better in attack.

“We’ve tinkered the way that we’re attacking and I think the boys have bought into it really well. They’re confident and playing some good footy, which is good at this time of the year.”

The Blackhawks were camped on PNG’S line after an early mistake from the visitors as centre Bacho Salam struck the first blow with a powerful run after just eight minutes.

Poor discipline cruelled the Hunters as backrower Temone Power and winger Kalifa Faifai Loa both found the tryline to quickly extend the home side’s lead to 18-0.

Blackhawks winger Zac Santo marked his return from a leg injury with a length-of-the-field try before the Hunters finally got on the board through hooker Nick Hasu to make it 24-6 at halftime.

The Hunters continued to put themselves under pressure with penalties and it didn’t take long for the Blackhawks to make them pay as backrower Jake Marketo sliced through for a 30-6 lead.

Prop Cade Maloney barged over for a try in his first game of the season before fullback Nathan Traill won an aerial contest to score as the Blackhawks laid on three tries in eight minutes early in the second half.

Hunters five-eighth Ase Boas finally gave the big crowd of PNG supporters something to cheer about with a crucial line break before lock Kevin Appo finished it off with a try.

TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 48 (Bacho Salam, Temone Power, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Zac Santo, Jake Marketo, Cade Maloney, Nathan Traill, Kyle Laybutt tries; Shaun Nona 8/8 goals) def PNG HUNT

(Nick Hasu, Kavin Appo, Terry Wapi tries; Ase Boas 3/3 goals) at Jack Manski Oval