SP PNG Hunters

A new pathway begins

This arrangement is part of a strategic partnership between the SP PNG Hunters and the Dolphins NRL club which aims to get more local players from Papua New Guinea into the NRL competition.

The four Hunters players, Judah Rimbu, Rodrick Tai, Sherwin Tanabi and Emmanuel Waine, began training with the Wayne Bennett-coached Dolphins this week and will be working towards earning a fulltime NRL contract over the next eight weeks of preseason.

Hunters resume training

The team officially resumed training on Monday minus four of the senior players who are currently on train and trial with the Dolphins in Brisbane.

With 8 weeks remaining  before the Hostplus Cup season kicks off on the weekend of March 11 and 12 -2023,the PNG Hunters have finalized their 30 man squad with the inclusion of returning Hunters and  a number of exciting young talents from the Digicel Cup who have earned their spots on merit.

Hunters players join Dolphins

Emmanuel Waine, Rodrick Tai, Sherwin Tanabi and Judah Rimbu have been called up to the Wayne Bennett-coached side for train and trial deals in 2023.

They join fellow Papua New Guinean and Kumul player, Jeremiah Simbiken in the squad.

This is through a strategic pathway signed between the PNG Hunters and the NRL Dolphins in 2022.

Of those four players, two will be selected by the Dolphins to stay on and train with their NRL squad for the remainder of the season.

Hunters Squad Trimmed

From the initial 40-man squad, 30 players are returning to camp this weekend before preseason training resumes, while 10 have been released back to their respective clubs.

From 48 players named in the original train-on squad, nine were invited with own logistics and accommodation between November and December 2022, however eight players did not complete their stint for various reasons.

Tough call for young guns

They have to live at home and come for training on a daily basis and this has shown to be tough for the new faces.

Hunters Head Coach, Stanley Tepend said this is the new training approach taken to build character, self-discipline and mental toughness.

He said previously, players had been accommodated but for this year, they have changed their strategy especially for those news players who have just joined the training camp.

Hunters Stun League Leaders in final Home-Away-From-Home Match

With a host of supporters in attendance to finally farewell the Hunters from the Gold Coast, the PNG side produced a stunning 32-24 win over competition heavyweights Burleigh Bears in Round 19 of the QRL Hostplus Cup.

The occasion seemed to bring the best out of the Hunters who started strongly and maintained their dominance right through until the final stages to notch an emotional victory at their home-away-from-home in Runaway Bay.

Round 19 Match Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Burleigh Bears

This match is again potentially the last time the Hunters will play at their home-away-from-home on the Gold Coast in 2022, with plans to return to Papua New Guinea next week for the last game of the regular season still tentatively placed and pending approval from the QRL. 

The Hunters come into Round 19 on the back of a nail-biting 23-23 draw with the Townsville Blackhawks last weekend and will take plenty of confidence from that result. 

Round 17 Match Report: SP PNG Hunters v Sunshine Coast Falcons

From the opening set it was clear this was going to be a physical contest. Hunters’ forward Sylvester Namo came off the back fence from the kick-off and launched himself into a wall of Sunshine Coast defenders, leaving multiple bodies in his wake including Falcons’ prop Max Bailey who was forced from the field.

With the tone set, both sides got to work as the Sunshine Coast locals watched on.

Round 17 Match Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Sunday’s game marks the beginning of the end of a two-and-a-half year relocation period for the Hunters, who have based themselves on the Gold Coast throughout the COVID pandemic. Although momentarily delayed under QRL direction this week, the Hunters are slated to return to Papua New Guinea later this month to play out the remainder of the 2022 Hostplus Cup at the Santos National Football Stadium (NFS) in Port Moresby. Before they think about returning home however, the Hunters have a job on their hands this weekend when they take on the third placed Falcons on Sunday. 

PNG Hunters homecoming delayed

With the potential for further socio-political unrest in Papua New Guinea, the QRL sought expert advice ahead of the proposed Hunters’ homecoming match. 

QRL chief executive officer Rohan Sawyer said that advice suggested the risk of travelling to PNG was high as a direct result of the recent elections.

“We’ve carefully considered all aspects of the situation and in the interests of the health and safety of the respective teams, we’ve made the decision to move the Round 18 match from Port Moresby to the Gold Coast,” Sawyer said.