SP PNG Hunters

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.

Hunters ready to resume from bye weekend

As part of a regular review of the Hunters’ progress, SP PNG Hunters Chairman Stan Joyce CSM and Director Jeremy Edwards have met with CEO Scott Barker and Head Coach Matt Church to discuss the Hunters’ performance.

It was also an opportunity to ensure the club’s long-term strategic plan remains on track and that agreed targets are being met.

The meeting acknowledged that this season’s results have not met the expectations of the club, which tasted premiership success in 2017.

Bears Thrash PNG Hunters

The Hunters suffered their fourth consecutive loss under a wet weather threatened to dampen the historic annual match-up, but both sides adapted to the conditions to produce an entertaining 80 minutes.

Despite the scoreboard suggests, the Hunters earned their share of opportunities but the difference lay in Burleigh’s ability to capitalise on field position and weight of possession.

Round 4 Match Preview: SP PNG Hunters v Sunshine Coast Falcons

The Hunters have made a fair start to the 2022 season, winning their opening game before going down in tightly-fought contests in the last two weeks. In both losses, the Hunters finished strongly to win the second half and the focus is now on starting well against the Falcons this week.

Round 3 Match Report: SP PNG Hunters v Brisbane Tigers

The Tigers found the scoreboard early, making the most of some early field position to score through centre Bernard Gregorius.

The Hunters responded well, applying pressure with their defence and working upfield effectively through the middle. On the back of this, in the 17th minute and in his debut appearance for the Hunters, halfback Jamie Mavoko orchestrated PNG’s first points with a perfectly weighted grubber kick that Rodick Tai would fall on to score.

Round 2 Match Report: SP PNG Hunters v CQ Capras

The SP PNG Hunters have fallen short to a fast-starting CQ Capras side 26-16 in Round 2 of the Hostplus Cup at Browne Park, Rockhampton.

The Capras were on from the kick-off, working their way up-field in the opening set to launch an attacking kick skyward on the last. The Hunters couldn’t field it cleanly and Capras’ winger Brandon Roberts was the beneficiary, diving on the loose ball to open the scoring.  

Backrower Ethan O’Neill was next to score for the Capras, latching onto a perfectly weighted grubber from five-eighth Raedean Robinson to score next to the posts.

Hunters To Keep Form Against Capras

The Hunters kicked off the season with an encouraging 16-10 win over the Mackay Cutters in Round 1. The Hunters markedly improved their discipline and handling from the preseason trials and took an early lead against the Cutters, thanks to tries from Solo Wane and Dilbert Isaac. From there the Hunters’ defended their lead through the second half before

SP PNG Hunters Round 1 Match Report

The Hunters enjoyed an excellent start, getting through their opening set before strong contact in defence forced the Cutters into an error with their first possession. Starting props Casey Dickson and Sylvester Namo consistently bent the line with their carries to open the game and Mackay had no answer. Left-edge backrower Benji Kot came awfully close to crashing over the line after collecting a late offload before the Hunters forced yet another error in Mackay’s half.

Namo To Lead Hunters Pack

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.

BSP Gets Behind The PNG Hunters

Yesterday, 15th 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.