SP PNG Hunters Coach Paul Aiton says injuries remain the biggest obstacle facing his side as they prepare for this weekend's crucial R12 QRL Hostplus Cup clash against the Tweed Seagulls.
The Hunters return from a bye round with just two wins from 11 matches, but Aiton believes the team's position on the ladder does not reflect how competitive they have been throughout the season.
The coach revealed that around 10 players remain unavailable due to injury, forcing constant changes to the line-up since the opening round.
"Since Round One we haven't had our full-strength team on the field," Aiton said.
"We knew we had an inexperienced squad coming into the season, but we didn't plan for the number of injuries we've had."
The Hunters used the bye week to focus on recovery while maintaining fitness through a modified training schedule.
"It's been a good couple of weeks off, but we still trained three days of the week," Aiton said.
"We gave the boys enough time to rest, but the focus was on maintaining our conditioning and making sure we're ready to go again."
"I think we lost a lot of those games ourselves. There were probably a couple where the opposition was better than us, but the majority were games we were competing in before letting them slip away."
The injury crisis has forced players into unfamiliar positions throughout the season, disrupting combinations and limiting consistency.
However, Aiton praised the commitment of his squad despite the challenges.
"Every time we train, everyone shows up and gives their best," he said.
"There might be mistakes because of inexperience, but the effort has always been there."
The Hunters will face the Tweed Seagulls at the Preston Building Sports Complex, Piggabeen in Australia this weekend after narrowly losing to them earlier this season by just eight points.
While acknowledging the challenge ahead, Aiton remains confident the Hunters can still push for a place in the finals.
"The Hostplus Cup is a tough competition and every game is difficult," he said.
"But I still think we're a chance. With this group and a bit of confidence from a couple of wins, we can make a run towards the top eight, which remains our goal."
