Ipswich Jets

Hunters beat Ipswich Jets in trial match

​Despite the wet conditions, the first 20 minutes proved intriguing, with both teams displaying discipline and holding their defensive lines effectively.

However, on the 30th minute mark, the Ipswich Jets broke through with a try by Paul Iopu, taking the lead 4-0, although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

The PNG Hunters quickly retaliated with a try from Joshua Mire in the 34th minute. Sakias Komati’s successful conversion brought the score to 6-4 in favour of the Hunters by halftime.

Hunters Win Big over Jets

A heaving crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium was treated to a smorgasbord of attacking football on Saturday afternoon as the Hunters and Jets traded shots in a high-scoring affair.

The points didn’t come straight away, though. Both sides were disciplined to begin the game and worked through their sets cleanly to kick to the corners. The Hunters enjoyed good service from middles Henry Wan Noki, Ila Alu and Junior Rop in the opening stages as they rolled downfield, while the Jets kicking game kept them in the yardage battle.

Hunters out to put down Jets

The Hunters outplayed the Mackay Cutters last weekend to collect two competition points on the back of a resounding 18-10 win. The Hunters defended a desperate Cutters outfit as they mounted a comeback midway through both halves but for all their desperation, Mackay never really got close.  
 
The Hunters dominated the ruck area once the game settled into a grind, thanks largely to the work of their back five in exit sets.  
 

Ipswich Jets Flog Hunters

Despite their position on the ladder, the Jets came out firing from the kick off, charging upfield with their first set to attack the Hunters’ line. The visitors’ defence held but it was a sign of things to come, with Ipswich dominating field position and yardage early on to score tries through Ricci Falaniko and Denzel Burns inside the first 10 minutes.

Having been beaten out of the gates, the PNG side mustered to drag themselves back in the contest thanks to the silky attacking skills of Judah Rimbu at fullback.

Vale Tu'u Maori

Always up for a challenge on the field – be it with Ipswich, for the Sydney Roosters, Newtown Jets, Cronulla Sharks or Melbourne Storm – Maori was there leading the way.

Maori also represented Papua New Guinea in the 2008 World Cup and 2009 Pacific Cup.

Off the field, Maori took up the fight against MND when he was diagnosed in 2019 and sadly lost that battle at the age of 33 on January 3.

Ex-Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters star passes away aged 33 after battle with MND

Maori represented the Sydney Roosters in the Toyota Cup in 2008 – a stint which earned him a call-up to the Papua New Guinea World Cup squad in the same year.

Maori, who could play anywhere along the backline as well as at halfback, played for the Newtown Jets, the Roosters’ feeder club in the NSWRL Cup competition, in 2009.

The PNG international would then go on to play for the Cronulla Sharks in the 2011 NSW Cup.

His story has been best described by himself on his GoFundMe page:

Hunters’ line-up maintained for round 15

Michael Marum said at the press conference today that he’s only added Edene Gabbie and Paul Wawa to the extended 20-man bench.

The 20-man squad is:

  1. Adex WERA
  2. Junior RAU
  3. Thompson Teteh
  4. Willie Minoga
  5. Brendon GOTUNO
  6. Charlie SIMON
  7. Watson BOAS
  8. Enock MAKI
  9. Wartovo Puara Jnr                   -       Captain
  10. Stanton ALBERT
  11. Nixon PUT
  12. McKenzie YEI
  13. Rhadley BRAWA

Interchange

Ball turnover a problem for both teams

Three tries put the Hunters in charge at half-time with a 16-6 lead.

But the tide turned and the home side spent the better part of the second half defending their line

“We didn’t have the football in the second half. We gave away too many balls there so that’s something to work on,” said coach Michael Marum.

Ipswich Jets coach, Shane Walker, put his side’s loss down to the same factor.

“Yeah like Michael said about his own team, we turned over quite a bit of ball. There were a lot of turnovers.

Hunters squad named for round 1 clash

Captain Ase Boas is back after being given the green light, while fullback Stargroth Amean has been ruled out of the opener due to injury.

Forward John Andy will become Hunter #54 after being named in the starting side.

"Stargroth is still nursing a rib injury and also has a chest infection so Adex Wera comes in for him at fullback," said Assistant Coach, Nigel Hukula.

"John is a dynamic player and brings a lot of aggression to the game, earning him a call up."

On the return of Boas, Hukula said the star halfback is fit and will be back at his best.

Hunters overtake Jets with 20-4 win

The visitors found the try line first after a break from the halfway line by Nemani Valekapa, who then flicked it out to Michael Purcell to score in the 8th minute.

The Hunters could not hold on to the ball in the first half; poor ball handling denied them any points with incomplete sets.

The Jets continued to ask questions but the Hunters’ defence was up to the task to keep them out.

It took 39 minutes but the Hunters finally found the try line, thanks to a barnstorming run from David Loko, who shrugged off five defenders before slamming the ball down.