Glare's rapid rise brings him one step closer to premiership dreams

Ahead of the 2024 Hostplus Cup season, incoming PNG Hunters coach Paul Aiton picked out three players for fans to keep a close eye on.

There were two centres in Robert Mathias and Elijah Roltinga, both of whom have had their fair share of games this year and are expected to suit up again this Sunday in PNG’s preliminary final showdown with Norths Devils.

And then there was a young up-and-comer – Finley Glare.

Hailing from Lae in the Morobe Province, Glare came into Aiton’s 50-man squad at the very start of pre-season last November fresh-faced and unaware of what was awaiting him.

In the months prior to joining the Hunters, Glare had captained the Junior Kumuls against an Australian Schoolboys team and the promise of his future was there for all to see.

Junior Kumuls coach Joey Grima knew of his potential.

“He’s a very quiet man,” Grima told QRL in January.

“He doesn’t say too much but leads by his actions on the field. There’s been a little bit of interest in him given his starring performance against the Australian Schoolboys.

“He’s cut in the same mould as Super League hooker Edwin Ipape.”

But while his coaches knew where he could go, even Glare himself has been stunned by his fast rise through the game.

In 2017, in Year 6, he started playing schoolboys rugby league and progressed through the usual grades, from under 12s to under 14s and then under 16s.

From here, he joined the East Taraka Spiders in a local competition in Lae. This led to him signing with the Lae Snax Tigers in the Digicel Cup – the top tier league in Papua New Guinea.

And then, after just 12 months, he got the call up from Aiton.

“Coach Paul, he wanted to give me a train and trial for the Hunters,” Glare said.

“I thought that I would just come in and just go with the flow with the boys. I thought after that I’d go back to play for my local team back home but fortunately I got selected in the 30-man squad.

“After getting selected, I see all the old boys are there and I thought I would never break through that team.

“For me, it was all pretty quick. One year into one year. But it’s so good. It’s the right thing at the right time.”

Just like he never thought he would make the final 30 and was proven wrong, Glare’s pre-season assumption that he wouldn’t crack the 17 in his first year was also wrong.

While it was certainly a goal of his, he didn’t see it coming.

But in Round 2 against the Central Queensland Capras, he officially became a PNG Hunter, making his Hostplus Cup debut off the bench.

He has played in 18 games since that first match, including four starts.

The versatile playmaker has starred at five-eighth, halfback and hooker for his beloved Hunters but mostly been used as the bench utility.

He will play again this weekend against the Devils, striving to help his side make their first grand final since they won their inaugural premiership in 2017.

As he reflects on his season so far, Glare is happy with his progress but knows there’s a lot for him to still learn.

“My form’s been good but I’m still disciplined, still working hard,” he said.

“I still need some momentum and to keep working hard.

“I want my teammates to know that I’m going to bring courage and I have the ability to come in and get the job done on the field.

“They rely on me but I rely on them most of the time. They help me.”

Adding to Glare’s pride in playing for the Hunters is the fact his surname holds some significance around the club.

His older brother, Warren Glare, played with the Hunters in 2015-16 and again last year.

He said his brother is the reason why he plays the game today.

“My big brother Warren… We’ve both played for the Hunters and I used to follow him around and he inspired me a lot to play rugby," he said.

“It’s been good following in his footsteps. He told me to play hard, be disciplined and, one day, go play in the UK or Australia.”

Super League or NRL is certainly on Glare’s radar for one day in the future, as is the chance to represent the PNG Kumuls, with the young gun placing a keen eye on this year’s upcoming Prime Minister’s XIII clash.

But first, his focus remains firmly on this weekend and where it could lead for his team.

“For me, it’s an honour to play for the Hunters and to be one game away from the grand final, I feel pretty excited,” he said.

“We are expecting the Devils will come out strong but we have prepared well. We are focused on ourselves and we will stick to our plan, no matter what.

“For me, a grand final win would mean a lot. To just be here and come through this and be one step away from the grand final, it means a lot for me and my family.”

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Main image: Glare in pre-season. Photo: Rikki-Lee Arnold/QRL