WIGMEN NAMED 36-MAN SQUAD|SIX HUNTERS PART OF HELA TEAM

By Benjamin KOITAKA

LAST year grand finalists Hela Wigmen have named 36-man squad, consist of retained, development and import players for the 2025 Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup campaign.

The Hela franchise also named six PNG Hunters players to provide the much needed guidance, support and experience, which adds up to total of 42 players for the season.

Ex-Hunters in Francis Takai, Casey Dickson, Solomon Pokare, Siki Konden, Woods Kawage and Norman Brown are set to lead upfront, backed by club’s exports in Solo Wane, Valentine Richard, Trevor Solu, Murray Connors and Bruce Bawa, who are currently with the Hunters.

Head coach Ian Yaro adamant that each player was selected out of merit and their commitment towards the long preseason trainings they held, since late last year and will give their best this season to make the club proud.

Mentor Yaro further added the from a grueling preseason training, almost 60-players were cut to the final squad, before the season opener kick-off this weekend in main centers of the country.
“We also have our Hunters boys, if they don’t have game time there, they will still comeback and play for us,” he added while officially naming the squad.
“Our focus is on each game, every weekend while, winning the minor-premiership and eventually the premiership title at the end of the season is our long-term aim.
“We have a very good playing group with us.
“You will see that we have youth, experience and retained players and young talents for us this year.

“They will join us during the season.

“We have given a lot of the opportunity to the development players; they were in the side for the last two-years.

Franchise boss Patrick Wundai added that they have already announced the squad earlier to give players ample time to prepare for the round 1 match against Mt Hagen Eagles.

“We have already announced the season’s squad but this is just for the sake and formalities wise to kick-off the season and unveiling our season’s uniforms.

“We have a grand final rematch this weekend (Eagles) and the boys are prepared.

“We are determined and we remain hungry.

“We have a good team and we ready to go one step further this year,” he stated.