Hostplus Cup 2022

The Hunters wrapped up a grueling preseason with a promising trial win over the West Brisbane Panthers A-grade side last week.

The Mackay Cutters went down 22-18 to the CQ Capras in their preseason trial game and were midway through a match against the NQ Cowboys Young Guns before extreme weather saw the game called off.

The last time these two sides met was in Round 12 last year when Mackey narrowly beat the Hunters 40-30 in a high scoring contest. The Hunters flew out to an early lead in that game but could not hold off a fast-finishing Cutters outfit.

Yesterday, 15^th of March, BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming announced their K150,000 support to help the team continue their hunt for the top spots in this year’s Hostplus Cup and make PNG proud

BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming and SP PNG Hunters Commercial Manager Alan Moramoro formalized the sponsorship deal in a joint media conference held at the NFS yesterday.

Fleming said BSP Financial Group said they are proud  to rally behind the SP PNG Hunters 2022 season in the Queensland Hotplus Cup with K150,000 sponsorship.

The trial match is an important part of pre-season preparation for both teams’ thanks to support from Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFAIT), and the Australian Government’s Pacific-Aus Sports program.

It is also an opportunity for two proud cultures to unite in support of fellow Pacific nation Tonga.

Proceeds from the Melanesian Bowl will go towards the disaster relief efforts in Tonga as the country recovers from the January natural disaster.

The match has been scheduled for February 26 at Bycroft oval in Gold Coast.

The Silktails squad is now counting down to the big pre-season clash against their Melanesian rivals, the PNG Hunters, with the two sides set to meet for the first time.

The trial was initially planned for 2021, however due to COVID-19 restrictions the match was cancelled.

The Silktails will start their second season in the NSW Ron Massey Cup competition and currently on pre-season tour to the Gold Coast and supported by the City of Gold Coast under Sports Attraction Program.

While many pre-season games provide a well-worn opportunity for players and coaches to work on combinations, this game will be anything but a standard trial match for the respective teams.

Instead, the February 26 match at Runaway Bay’s Bycroft Oval will celebrate Melanesian and Indigenous culture, as communities come together through their shared love of rugby league. 

Head Coach Matthew Church announced the squad today and expressed his excitement for the season ahead.

“It is my absolute pleasure to announce the final squad of 26 for the upcoming 2022 season. 

“We have an exciting mix of returning and new players from PNG’s premier Rugby League competition the Digicel Cup, and there is a real hunger within the group to perform, challenge each other and strive towards a better season in 2022,” Church said.

Church also confirmed the SP PNG Hunters’ leadership model for the 2022 season.

Hunters Coach, Matt Church this week confirmed the two trial matches against Fiji Kaiviti Silktails and Central Queensland Capras are happening as scheduled at the end of February and early March.

The trail matches are crucial for the team moving forward as they will provide a platform for coach Church to assess and test out the team’s structural play, combinations and understanding of the new rules ,in real game situations before the season kicks off.

He is regarded as one of the most senior members of the current training squad that will be finalized on January 26, 2022 before the team travels down to Queensland on the 28^th.

Isaac was recruited by former Hunters coach Michael Marum in 2018 while playing for the Gurias. He proved to be a consistent member of the team until he got injured.

Isaac’s rugby league future was under a serious injury cloud after he was diagnosed with a rare spinal issue that forced him to seek urgent medical treatment while doing studies at the same time.

Coach, Mathew Church has emphasized to the team on getting their mindset right with good attitude towards training sessions and putting the team first.

He said since the preseason started a number of returning Hunters have been terminated or released for compromising the team’s culture.

Church has also brought in a number of outstanding players from the 2021 Digicel Cup competition for experience and direction.

He joined the coaching staff in Gold Coast in the midst of the 2021 QRL season and says communication is key on and off the field.

“My job is to take the boys and create a pathway, we need to win games, and we also trying to help the boys become better in their rugby league careers as well. So in doing that, we have to speak a little bit of English and Tok Pisin,” said Aiton.

He was not present for last years’ preseason training and is happy with their progress in training for this season.