PNG Hunters

Butterfield last year called time on a highly decorated playing career that included four Cup grand final appearances and a Test debut for the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in 2017.

He is a highly respected member of the PNG rugby league community and is looking forward to taking on a new challenge this season.

“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to join the Hunters in 2022," Butterfield said.

Stanton Albert and Brendon Gotuno, to clear the air on why they were dropped from the 2022 PNG Hunters team.

Ipape was sacked by the PNG Hunters last month for disciplinary issues but was quickly signed up by the Adrian Lam coached English club, Leigh Centurions  for the 2022 season.

Ipape scored one of the most amazing Kumul tries of all  time on the stroke of halftime  to set up  the stunning second half comeback for PNG Kumuls to upset Great Britain 28-10  in 2019 at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.

The Lae Snax Tigers franchise owner and LBC Group Manager, John Chow, said it has been a huge success for Tepend over his last nine years as Tigers head coach. Chow is he can get better given the elevated recognition.

Following the announcement of Tepend’s appointment by the Hunters board last week, the LBC joined the rest of the franchises, supporters and especially the Tigers team in wishing Tepend the best with the Hunters.

Chow said the records speaks for itself for Tepend both at the domestic and international level.

Boas returns to England to complete his contract with League One club Doncaster.

It will be tough for an injury-riddled PNG Hunters but Rimbu starting up as five-eight and should direct the match to victory.

Rimbu’s 70 minutes against the Burleigh Bears and has benefited him for the No.6jersey this weekend.  

He was 2020 Digicel Cup Rookie of the Year, while playing for the 2020 premiers, Hela Wigmen.

Energetic utility forward, Edwin Ipape returns in Round 8 from a two-game suspension collected in the Hunters’ 25-18 Kokoda Cup loss to Burleigh Bears.

The 19-year-old Rimbu slots into a backline featuring 2021 new faces Jokadi Bire and Norman Brown while the likes of Samuel Yegip and Benji Kot are among the next generation in the forwards.

 Most of the bench named for Sunday’s clash are also early in their Hunters’ careers. They will face a Tigers team with a spine that could be Gerard Beale, Ryley Jacks, Darren Nicholls and Aaron Booth – a quartet of players with more experience across NRL and Intrust Super Cup than the Hunters’ combined squad.

The signing of the agreement was between Prime Minister Marape and Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Jonathan Philp after they farewelled the PNG Hunters team to Queensland.

The agreement will pave way for two technical officials, paid for by Australia to help Hunters in the areas of marketing and professional sports and career development.

Prime Minister James Marape said the level of relationship and cooperation between the two governments, at people to people level, and now in sports was getting stronger.

It was an all-round performance by the team as fans in Port Moresby got a glimpse of the squad in their first match under new Coach Mathew Church for the 2020 season.

The Hunters took a 20 – 6 lead going into the break despite allowing the Capras score the opening try of the match.

Hunters showed class and bounced back immediately with try’s to Nicky Hasu, Junior Rau, Joe Joshua and Casey Dickson

The 14, 697 fans were treated to an action packed 80 minutes of football from both sides.

However it was the Broncos who prevailed keeping the Hunters scoreless to run in four tries through captain Alex Glenn, Korbin Sims, Jordan Kahu and Corey Oates.

Ottio, who had been due to fly to England with Kumuls teammate Wellington Albert on Thursday to join Super League club Widnes, passed away at the Pacific International Hospital in Port Moresby at 2am on Tuesday after collapsing during a road run on Sunday.

Hunters players held a bedside vigil for the 23-year-old, who had asked to join the session with the Queensland Cup premiers at short notice.