PNG muscle fronts up for Blackhawks
THE Townsville Blackhawks have added some physicality to their forward pack for the 2020 Queensland Cup season with the recruitment of Papua New Guinean prop Moses Meninga.
Meninga is a starting front-rower for the Hunters in the Q-cup and has also played three Tests for the Kumuls with his strong mix of size and athleticism.
The Hunters struggled last season as they finished second last, but Meninga consistently led from the front to average 106 run metres, 26 tackles and two offloads per game.
Blackhawks coach Aaron Payne said the club first approached Meninga after their Round 9 trip to Port Moresby and he was excited about the hard-hitting forward’s potential in Townsville.
“I would consider him one of the best, if not the best, front-rowers in the comp,” Payne said.
“Despite being in a losing side, he was their best player every week and when we played them he was an absolute handful to try and stop.
“He’s physical, as most of the Papua New Guineans are, but he’s big, he’s fit, he’s aggressive. He’s got a fantastic offload, he’s got footwork, speed – the list just keeps going on.
“I see him as someone potentially we can help develop and with every chance of progressing to an NRL system – hopefully with the Cowboys.
“That’s the sort of opinion I’ve got of him.”
The Blackhawks have also added the experience of former Northern Pride co-captain Tom Hancock for next season after he relocated to Townsville for work and reached out to the club. Hancock swept the Pride’s awards night this year to be named the player of the year and players’ player and Payne said the 26-year-old backrower was an excellent pickup for the Blackhawks.
“He’s an experienced Q-cup player with leadership qualities and he’ll certainly give us a lot of depth in the backrow,” the coach said.
The Blackhawks have also made offers to a couple of former Cowboys players, but their major focus has been on retention after a successful 2019 campaign that saw them reach the preliminary finals.
Jaelen Feeney, Kyle Laybutt, Temone Power, Jake Marketo, Nathan Traill, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Bacho Salam, Michael Carroll, Joyce Boyce, and Sam Hoare have already re-signed for the new season, while the club is also confident of retaining Josh Chudleigh.
The Blackhawks won’t return for pre-season training until November 25 as Payne said that stability with the squad along with their professionalism last season meant the players had earned an extended break.
“I know everyone dreads pre-season training, but it’s also a show of faith that they’re pretty professional and I know they’ll come back in good nick,” he said.