Trial match

The match up scheduled for Saturday would certainly  generate a lot of interest from the PNG community in and around the great state of Queensland

There will be no love lost when Capras trio Zev John, Bob Tenza and Khaia Ross Junior face off with fellow PNG Dolphins  Jeremiah Simbiken, Judah Rimbu and Steven Numambo.

Bulky Western Highlander and Hela Wigmen product Ross Junior is set to make an impression playing at the QRL level when he debuts for Capras alongside fellow Papua New Guineans John and Tenza who have been at the Capras system for the past two seasons.

EMK Sepik Pride Chairman Bradley Simon, when confirming the trial match, said they have brought their possible strongest side yet as this will be their last trial match before their maiden round one clash against PRK Gulf Isou on April 16, at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Simon said their four elite players in Captain Wartovo Puara jnr, prop Francis Kembis, gun centre Joe Frank and former Gurias Captain Francis Takai, are part of their first 17 for tomorrow's trial.

Into his second year in the Hostplus Cup, 24-year-old Rodrick Tai who is one of the four Kumul players that joined the Dolphins,ran out onto the field, and managed to score a try for the Dolphins.

Before the trial, Tai stated that last year was a big year for him.

“To make the Hunters squad, play a lot of games, then go to the World Cup and to get to come here, it’s been a very big year. I’m just stoked. I cannot believe it. It’s been good”.

PNG Hunters Head Coach, Stanley Tepend in an official announcement today confirmed date before the 2023 Hostplus Cup season proper kicks off on March 11, 2023.

Tepend said this is exciting for the new boys to get a first taste of what to expect in the QRL competition when the season kicks off.

Capras have a strong connection with PNG since securing the services of former Hunters, Nixon Putt and McKenzie Yei among others.

The 22-player squad, which was announced to players at their training session earlier this morning, will travel to Marley Brown Oval in Gladstone to take on the Central Queensland Capras on Saturday night.

This will be the first appearance of a Dolphins NRL team ahead of their official competition debut next month against Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium.

The Gurias showed their class, power and experience early in the contest to take the lead 18-6 to halftime.

It was Guria's prodigal son Stanley Olo darting out of dummy half to open the scoring which was successfully converted by Saki Peter to give Gurias a 6-0 lead over  Cutters. 

The home team lost to New South Wales Cup team Penrith Panthers 20-12 in front of a bumper crowd of over 15 000 people.

 Following the official opening of the NFS by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Panthers opened the score board with the first try through Leilani Latu 15 minutes into the game.

A successful conversion took them to lead 6-0.

Hunters fought back to score their first try through Adex Wera five minutes to half time followed by an unsuccessful conversion 6-4.

Panthers extended the lead through a try seconds to half time from Josh Hall.

The team looked frivolous and fortified to face the SP Hunters tomorrow night.

“Despite the short notice, we have taken weeks of training to go on head to head with Hunters as we know they are a tough team to play against,” says Penrith Panthers coach Steve Georgallis.

Georgallis added that we have watched the SP Hunters play in the Queensland Cup and I it is going to be a very hard-hitting challenge for my boys here in Papua New Guinea because it’s their home, it’s their town and it’s their country and they will be very passionate.