HARD-running Townsville Blackhawks recruit Willie Minoga looms as the man to ignite the club’s sophomore Intrust Super Cup campaign.

Minoga has been a fan favourite for the Papua New Guinea Hunters over the past two years where his bulldozing runs and aggressive defence have earned him the nickname “Freight Train”.

The 28-year-old’s strength, agility, and athleticism caught the attention of the Blackhawks, who stormed to the minor premiership in their debut season only to fall just short in the grand final against the innovative Ipswich Jets.

Coach Kristian Woolf believed Townsville had lacked impact off the bench and he hoped Minoga’s devastating ball carries would add another dimension to the team in 2016.

“Not pigeonholing him in to being a bench player, but he offered a lot of impact for the Hunters last year and it was something that we felt we lacked all year,” Woolf said.

“He was a real fan favourite for the Hunters last year and we’re hoping he can be the same for us.

“He runs the ball with some real aggression, defends with some real aggression, and from what I know of him the last couple of days he’s a really good personality as well.

“I think our fans will really warm to him and he brings something we just didn’t have last year with that impact off the bench. I’m really hoping he can add a new dimension to our game in that sense as well.”

Woolf felt the Blackhawks were already in a stronger position to this time last year with a full season under their belts.

He said the club was forced to play catch-up for much of its rookie year, but now the players know first-hand the level of fitness they need to be successful.

“We were starting behind the eight-ball with everything so we certainly needed to work harder than what we knew every other team was and that’s something that we want to do again,” Woolf said.

“In terms of fitness, everyone knows the level we want to be at and everyone’s got a base fitness behind them. Although we’ve had seven weeks off, most blokes have gone away and done a fair bit of work in that time.

“The times that they ran for their 1200m on the first day last week we’re certainly a long way ahead of where they were that time last year. That means we’re starting at a much better base so we can go to a different level.”

The Blackhawks won’t have to wait long for their grand final rematch after the 2016 ISC draw was revealed yesterday.

They travel to Ipswich in round two on the weekend of March 12-13, with the return bout against the Jets at Jack Manski Oval set down for June 18-19.

Townsville will open its season at home against the Redcliffe Dolphins on March 5-6.

Other highlights include a north Queensland derby against the Northern Pride on the ANZAC Day weekend while Minoga will come up against his former team when Townsville hosts the PNG Hunters on August 13-14.

The ISC grand final will be played on Sunday, September 25 followed by the National Championship game on NRL grand final day in Sydney on Sunday, October 2.