Three Papua Guinea Hunters rugby league players will be fined and stood down for one match after going out drinking and failing to attend a recovery session yesterday.
Joe Joshua, Junior Rop and Mckenzie Yei all started for the Hunters in Sunday's 28-26 home defeat by Sunshine Coast Falcons, with regular fullback Joshua bagging a hat-trick after being switched to the centres.
The PNG Hunters are yet to win a game this season. Photo: PNG Rugby League
However head coach Michael Marum said the trio were nowhere to be seen at yesterday morning's post-match recovery session.
"Three players never turned up for a recovery session which is really important with the medicals yesterday," he said.
"I've had discussions with some senior players and I think they were out on the drink somewhere so that's going to be another issue to sort out this afternoon."
The Hunters are winless three rounds into the Intrust Super Cup season and face another tough test away to competition leaders Easts Tigers this weekend.
Michael Marum said after the team put in a much improved performance on the field it was disappointing to see players letting their standards slip off it.
"It's just a shame to see what they did again so it's just really bad. We don't need that rubbish around this time of year - you want to be making sure your best discipline is in," he said.
"We might sit them out this weekend and give them a fine - make everyone else realise that what privileges they have with the team here so you get given one chance to represent your club and make sure you don't throw it away."
The 2019 PNG Hunters squad. Photo: Facebook/SP PNG Hunters
Joe Joshua and Mckenzie Yei are among a host of new players in the Hunters squad this season and Michael Marum said they need to focus on training, prepare well and understand what they are in the team for.
Junior Rop is in his third season with the club and Marum said he should know better.
"I had concerns with Junior Rop - his game was just not giving us what we expected from him and this is a player who's been in the system for two years. He went back and we invited him back in, he's played three games and now he doesn't care about the jumper so that's a shame."
Michael Marum said it's a shame Joe Joshua will miss this weekend's game in Brisbane as he has been playing well but the leadership group believe ill discipline has been a factor in the team's results so far and standards need to be enforced.
He said as of Tuesday morning Joshua is still yet to make an appearance at training.
