Round 7

POM AFL Heads Into Round 7

This would be the third consecutive Saturday, the Swans had hosted their home game in their village.

The home and away arrangement began with the Gordon Kokofas two weeks ago and then played host to the University Tigers last week.

The Swans is the only rural team participating in the city competition. The idea behind hosting home games in their village was to boost AFL interest among young people to take AFL not just as a sporting code, but a way of life to build the capacity for community development.

Goal Kicking Let Mioks Down

At fulltime, Vipers 16-12 ran home over Mioks who scored more tries then the Vipers, but fell short on the scoreboard due to poor goal kicking and ill-discipline.

Mioks turned up on Sunday with a plan to spoil the party for the Vipers. This was evident in the opening  exchanges when former Lae Snax Tigers veteran and playmaker, Noel Joel busted the Vipers defense through the middle to set up Limbi Henry in (16) to draw first blood on the right hand corner to put them in front by 4-0.

Gurias maintain lead

From the outset, Dabaris showed a lot of resilience in the first half to hold out the Gurias 14-6 lead, until half until halftime.

Dabaris were first to score from a classic backline move that saw halfback Lote Kuman scooting over for the touchdown and converted to take an early lead 6-0.

Devils Beat Hunters

From the kickoff it was clear the Hunters had a point to prove, defending their line for  consecutive sets and denying Norths on both edges before forcing them to find points with a kick to Brendan Frei in the 3rd minute. 

The Hunters would react convincingly, again turning Norths away on their own line before defending a second attacking kick. Hunters’ winger Terry Wapi would make a superb defensive catch to take possession for the Hunters before getting them 50m upfield with a clever run down the touch line. 

Round 7 Match Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Norths Devils

The Hunters have endured a difficult start to the 2022 season, facing four of the top five sides across the opening six rounds of the competition.

With a young squad and skipper Ila Alu in the casualty ward, the Hunters have had to learn the hard way and there is a belief in the group that they are building towards something promising.

The Devils are coming off a shoot-out win over Ipswich in Round 5 where a combined 68 points were scored. Norths entire backline crossed for a try in that game and shape as an area of strength again for the Devils in Round 8.

Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs: Roberts, Simpkin out; Moale recalled

The move of Jackson Hastings to halfback and Luke Brooks to No.6 proved a masterstroke by Michael Maguire and the confidence flowing through those two players is sure to rub off on their team-mates.

CommBank Stadium will feel very comfortable indeed for Wests Tigers after their Easter Monday heroics but they'll need to be at their best defensively to contain a Rabbitohs side brimming with attacking threats.

Cowboys v Titans: Neame back on deck; Same 17 for Holbrook

Down 12-0 at the break in the national capital the Cowboys looked like being steamrolled by the Green Machine but instead they dug deep and produced three qualtiy tries to stun the Raiders and their coach.

The Titans were in it all the way at 4 Pines Park and finished four tries apiece woth Manly but Toby Sexton's radar deserted him and it was another case of 'what might have been' for Justin Holbrook.

Broncos charge home to down brave Bulldogs in Brisbane

After trailing 14-6 with 25 minutes to play the Broncos piled on five tries in 21 minutes to overpower a Canterbury side which showed plenty of fight at the end of a horror week.

A scare for the home side early with forward leader Payne Haas forced from the field with a shoulder problem in the eighth minute but he was able to return midway through the half after treatment and went on to play a starring role.

Talakai runs riot as Sharks hold off Sea Eagles comeback

Talakai was virtually unstoppable as he scored two tries and laid on three others in arguably the best 40 minute display by any player this season as the Sharks raced to a 32-0 half-time lead.

The Sydney-born Talakai, who has pledged his World Cup allegiances to Tonga, also produced three line breaks, two line-break assists, seven tackle breaks and three off-loads while carrying the ball 202 metres in 13 runs at left centre.

Broncos v Bulldogs: Triumph for Te Maire; mass COVID changes

To say the Broncos and Bulldogs have been disappointing in the opening six rounds would surely be an understatement as they find themselves in 14th and 16th respectively with a paltry three wins between them.

One of those successes for Brisbane was against the Dogs in round two at Accor Stadium and five weeks later they square off again in a must-win clash.

With a passionate Suncorp Stadium crowd behind them the Broncos go in as warm favourites but coach Kevin Walters will be taking nothing for granted.