sp hunters

In a close affair, former Hunters coach Matt Church led the Tigers team to face a familiar Hunters line-up on home soil. With a home crowd advantage, Hunters were first to score in the fifth minute through Solo Wane with the conversion unsuccessful.

It was not too long when Tigers replied with a 4-pointer in the 13th minute through Brayden Torpy and soon after Hunter regrouped to put sneaky fullback Morea Morea over the line in the 18th minute, Brandon Nima scored in the 22nd minute, Julius Yakopa scored another not long in the 28th minute. 

The Round 3 of the QRL Hostplus Cup match will kick off at 3pm. 

Saturday’s fixture will mark just the second time the Hunters have played with a home ground advantage in more than three years. 

Sherwin, one of three PNG Hunters players who had a train and trial stint with new NRL franchise Dolphins, during off-season, is back in the fold, ready for a big 2023 Hostplus Cup season.

The rising 22-year-old PNG Hunters prodigy, and rugby union convert, Tanabi is relishing his new journey in rugby league.

Tanabi who comes from a strong soccer family history, is the odd one out when he decided to pursue an interest in both rugby union and rugby league. He started playing rugby 7s rugby while in secondary school but occasionally would switch to league.

The match is set for 3pm and is expected to bring back some hype and interest for the local rugby league populace after the Hunters returned from Australia at the end of the 2022 season.

Although it’s just a warm up match, the build up to tomorrow’s anticipated clash is expected to draw a good number, with some interest on Capras, knowing they have a strong PNG presence in their line-up.

The event took place in front of all corporate sponsors including naming rights sponsor SP Brewery and other major partners.

It’s a long time between drinks for the Hunters players, coaching staff and management to mingle and embrace with representatives from the various major corporate sponsors, partners, the media and friends.

PNG Hunters Coach Stanley Tepend has announced that he’ll be giving everybody the opportunity to take field before he confirms his first 17-man for the season opener on March 11.

While intensity at training has been maintained, the team is now focusing more on real game situation with more opposed sessions.

Coach Tepend has vowed to use next week’s trial match against the CQ Capras as an ideal opportunity for the boys to step up and get a first taste of what to expect and how they can handle pressure at the Queensland Cup level.

The players were allowed a couple of weeks off for recovery; and on Coach Tepend’s list are two members of the original Hunters team currently undergoing rehab.  

From the six Hunters players picked for this year’s RLWC only four are back in camp. Rodrick Tai, Emmauel Waine, Sherwin Tanabi and Weza Tenza while Hunters co-Captains Keven Apo and prop Sylvester Namo have secured contracts overseas.

Today’s training session also had a few surprises.

His passion, humility and charisma to engage with youths in the suburb is overwhelming.

The 27-year-old Simbu-Central mix rocket dynamo, Alu has become the stalwart of the PNG Hunters. 

His love and passion for the game, leadership quality and influence that he brings to the playing group is second to none.

Back in Tokarara, Alu’s passion is not only for rugby league but to be a role model and an agent of change for the younger generation is strong. He trains many youths who play in the Hohola off-season league where he started his early rugby league.

Original SP Hunter Garry Lo and Willie Minoga have been named on the extended bench.

Brendon Gotuno has been handed a one match suspension by the QRL Judiciary for a dangerous throw during last weekend’s loss to Townsville Blackhawks. He has been replaced by Bland Abavu.

The other wing sees Roy Ellison play his second ISC game after making his debut at the country week round 18 game in Wabag. He replaces of Junior Rau, who has been released to attend to personal issues.

The 20-man squad is:

A strong forwards performance laid the platform for the Hunters’ comeback from a 24 – 16 half time score.

Woods Kawage opened the scoring in the first minute after a knock on by the Tigers.

The visitors responded immediately, when a fifth last kick finding Bill Cullen for a 6 – 4 lead.

The Tigers went back to back when Sam Lavea scored after some quick play.

After a Tigers’ mistake, the Hunters put in some enterprising play to put Justin Yoka over to score and reduce the Tigers’ lead to two points.