THE Papua New Guinea SP Hunters have introduced another rookie into the mix when they take on Mackay Cutters tomorrow.

Limbi Henry is the latest inclusion to the Hunter’s circuit (Hunter #139) with Graham Rex making his debut last weekend in Ipswich.

“My family are very supportive of the journey that I embarked on since showing a keen interest in Rugby League back in School.”

Limbi has been part of the Enga Mioks team in the Digicel Exxon Mobil Cup since 2022. He was the player of the match in the 2023 DEM Cup Grandfinal as the Mioks remained undefeated throughout the season.

“At first, my dad didn’t want me to play sports because of what had happened to my older uncle who sustained a serious spinal injury in rugby league.”

“However, when I moved to Lae for studies, I started taking a keen interest in rugby and started playing in the school boys rugby while attending Bumayong Secondary School.”

“From there I had the opportunity to play with 10-City Rangers where I met some seniors from the Lae Tigers team then and they encouraged me to keep training extra hard to achieve my goals.”

He said when the opportunity landed for him to compete in the DEM Cup competition with the Mioks, he could not resist it as he was finally living out a dream.

“I watched a lot of great players start from the local leagues into DEM Cup and into the Hunters squad and PNG Kumuls and to experience that especially in the 2023 Grandfinal was an unreal experience.”

Henry was later named in the 2023 PNG Junior Kumuls squad ahead of the Prime Ministers’ XIIs fixtures in Port Moresby.

Henry said finally getting into the Hunter’s 30-man squad this year gives him the motivation to chase his dream further as he runs out for his first match in Mackay.

“I am grateful to coach Paul (Aiton) and the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity, and to my team mates, coaches, friends and family for supporting me in my journey.”

‘I am really overjoyed that I finally get to play as a PNG Hunter. This will be my second time traveling to play, the first being the trials in Cairns and now my first for season debut in Mackay.”

“The main goal for me is to work extra hard and week in and out to make the cut for the game’s this season,” he added.