SP PNG Hunters

Tested in Capras trial match

The Hunters used a 21-man squad for Saturday night’s game as they look to confirm team selections and build on combinations ahead of the Hostplus Cup regular season.

The Hunters were tested from the opening set when lock-forward and captain, Ila Alu, left the field with a shoulder injury and forced the Hunters into a reshuffle.

They entered the sheds at halftime down 10-0 but there were positives to come with the Hunters matching their opponents in the second half to finish the game 20-10.

Barras Meet Hunters

The PNG Barramundis (Cricket) and PNG Hunters (Rugby League) have currently been living and training together at the “Gold Coast Sport High Performance Centre” at Runaway Bay. The Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea supports both teams.

Both sporting teams and organisations continue to represent PNG with immense pride and class. The Barramundis and the SP PNG Hunters were all smiles despite the rain in a combined session last week. 

Hunters, Fiji Silktails Name Squads

Runaway Bay’s Bycroft Oval will celebrate Melanesian and Indigenous culture with the game to also provide an opportunity for the rugby league community to raise funds and awareness for Tonga Recovery Appeal.
Hunters coach, Matt Church and Silktails coach, Wes Naiqama have both named strong squads for Saturday's game.

The match will kick-off at 4.30pm on Saturday and televised live on Digicel TV Event Channel.
 

Hunters’ young guns seize NRL trial opportunity

The match will be the curtain raiser to the North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos NRL trial. 

Hunters’ assistant coach Stanley Tepend will also spend the early part of the week in the NQ Young Guns camp as part of his ongoing professional development. 

PNG And Fiji Unite For Melanesian Bowl

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.

Melanesian Trial Set

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.

Historic clash to showcase passion and culture

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. 

PNG Hunters: Cup gains and losses for 2022

Head coach Matthew Church announced the squad this week 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,” Church said.

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

KPMG Partners With SP PNG Hunters

As a globally recognized company in PNG, KPMG (PNG) is the latest and newest edition as a sponsor to have come on board and shown its interest into supporting the growth of rugby league in the country.

SP PNG Hunters’ Commercial Manager Alan Moramoro was delighted to share the news. He said the support offered is priceless particularly during the pandemic

Hunters Announce Final Squad

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.