The Papua New Guinea Hunters is a professional rugby league club from Papua New Guinea that participates in the Queensland Cup in Australia. They have relocated to Runaway Bay, Gold Coast for the 2021 Intrust Super Cup Season. The 2021 Intrust Super Cup will be the PNG Hunters' eighth season in rugby league's Queensland Cup after securing their future with a four-year license from 2019 until 2022. A 37-man train-on squad was announced for the pre season before it was trimmed and the final squad finalized. Doncaster RLFC agreed for Watson Boas to play with the Hunters squad until he was able to return to the United Kingdom. In partnership with PacificAus Sports( Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League, PNG Hunters and QRL signed a three year agreement titled 'Growing and Supporting Rugby League in Papua New Guinea'https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/04/01/qrl-takes-lead-in-unique-pacific-program in February which will see the PacificAus Sports and QRL assisting to develop the sport in the country by creating pathways for emerging PNG players and also develop pathways for PNG teams like the PNG Hunters Under-19s and Papua New Guinea Hunters women's to take part in high-level Australian sporting competitions The Hunters travelled with a 24-man squad to Queensland after six could not travel due to visa issues. Three consultants were recruited to join the coaching team in order to refine and up-skill the coaching staff through funding by PacificAus sports program.
Season summary Round 1: Jokadi Bire scored his first try for the club. Round 2: Edwin Ipape and Epel Kapinias scored their first tries for the club. Round 3: Samuel Yegip and Sylvester Namo scored their first tries for the club. Round 4: Norman Brown and Benji Kot scored their first tries for the club. Round 4: Wartovo Puara played his 115th game for the Hunters equaling the most capped player record with Adex Wera for the club. Round 6: Wartovo Puara played his 116th game for the Hunters becoming the most capped player in the history of the club Round 7: Solo Wane and Emmanuel Waine scored their first tries for the club. Round 14: Enoch Maki played his 95th game for the club overtaking Willie Minoga who played 94 games for the club. Round 16: Ase Boas played his 116th game for the club overtaking Adex Wera who played 115 games. Ase is now second most capped Hunter. Round 16: Judah Rimbu scored his first try for the club. Round 17: Gilmo Paul scored his first try for the club.
Milestone games Round Player Milestone Round 1 Jokadi Bire, Samuel Yegip, Edwin Ipape, Benji Kot, Emmanuel Waine, Sylvester Namo and Judah Rimbu ISC debutRound 4 Norman Brown ISC debutRound 5 Jeffrey Robert ISC debutRound 6 Tom Butterfield Hunters debutRound 7 Solo Wane ISC debutRound 8 Solomon Pokare ISC debutRound 12 Junior Rau 50th GameRound 19 Gilmo Paul ISC Debut (Hunter #98)Round 17 Enoch Maki 100th Game
2021 squad
Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesSolomon PokareHela WigmenJudah RimbuHela WigmenJokadi Bire Lae Snax TigersBenji Kot Kimbe CuttersSamuel YegipHela WigmenJeffrey RobertHela WigmenSylvester NamoLae Snax TigersEdwin Ipape Lae Snax TigersNorman Brown Hela WigmenGilmo PaulHela WigmenSolo Wane Hela WigmenWatson BoasDoncaster RLFC (loan)Wartovo Puara Barrow Raiders
Losses Player Signed To Until end of NotesShane NigelPort Moresby VipersJoe FrankWaghi TumbePatrick Morea Hela WigmenRhadley BrawaEnga MioksJunior RopLae Snax TigersSteven BrunoRabaul GuriasJustin YokaKimbe CuttersNicky OliverCentral DabarisFrancis TakaiRabaul GuriasRoy ElisonRabaul GuriasCasey Dickson Lae Snax TigersStanley Olo Lae Snax Tigers
Ladder PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Norths Devils1715020521320201302 Wynnum Manly Seagulls1712050513374139243 Burleigh Bears1712050457342115244 Tweed Heads Seagulls171025045838474225 Redcliffe Dolphins171106045039753226 Souths Logan Magpies171016051744671217 Townsville Blackhawks179170468361107198 Sunshine Coast Falcons179080448390 58189 Northern Pride179080376387 -111810 Papua New Guinea Hunters1760110386479 -931211 Brisbane Tigers1741120364456 -92912 Mackay Cutters1740130330556 -226813 Ipswich Jets1731130365561 -196714 Central Queensland Capras1712140303503 -2004
The team highlighted in blue has clinched the minor premiership Teams highlighted in green have qualified for the finals The team highlighted in red has clinched the wooden spoon
Fixtures Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 20 MarchRound 1 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast18-20Bire, Wapi, Puara Simon 3 goals Saturday, 27 MarchRound 2 Ipswich JetsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast44-22 Gotuno 3, Kapinias 2, Wapi, Bire, Ipape Simon 6 goals Saturday, 10 AprilRound 3 Mackay CuttersBB Print Stadium26-14 Yegip, Namo, Rau, W.Boas, Ipape Simon 3 goals Saturday, 17 AprilRound 4 Sunshine Coast FalconsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast32-12 Kot 2, Brown 2, Wapi, Yegip Simon 4 goals Saturday, 24 AprilRound 5 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park 18-25 Bire, Brown, Nima, Wapi Simon goal Sunday, 9 MayRound 6 Brisbane TigersBycroft Oval, Gold Coast12-40 Bire, Brown Simon 2 goals Sunday, 16 MayRound 7 Souths Logan MagpiesDavies Park14-48 Waine, Wane, Bire Pokare goal Saturday, 29 MayRound 8 Redcliffe DolphinsMoreton Daily Stadium12-24 Rau 2, Kot Saturday, 5 JuneRound 9 Townsville BlackhawksBycroft Oval, Gold Coast28-38 Bire 2, Appo 2, Nima, Kot Ase Boas 2 goals Saturday, 12 JuneRound 10 Norths DevilsBishop Park22-38 Wane, Kot, Bire, Appo Ase Boas 3 goals Sunday, 20 JuneRound 11 Burleigh BearsCbus Super Stadium6-40 Rau Ase Boas goal Saturday, 10 JulyRound 13 Sunshine Coast FalconsSunshine Coast Stadium12-26 Kot 2 Ase Boas 2 goals Saturday, 17 JulyRound 14 Northern PrideAtherton Stadium, Artheton34-22 Wane 3, Nima, Rau, Simon Ase Boas 4, Simon goals Saturday, 24 JulyRound 12 Mackay CuttersBycroft Oval, Gold Coast30-40 Rau 3, Gotuno 2, Wane Ase Boas 3 goals Saturday, 31 JulyRound 15 Wynnum Manly SeagullsEskdale Park, Maryborough Round 15 cancelled Saturday, 21 AugustRound 18 Brisbane TigersTotally Workwear Stadium Round 18 cancelled Sunday, 29 AugustRound 19 Souths Logan MagpiesBycroft Oval, Gold Coast26-32 Wapi 2, Puara, Yegip, Waine Ase Boas 3 goals Saturday, 4 Sept.Round 16 CQ CaprasBrowne Park22-20 Wane 2, Rimbu, Rau, Ipape Simon goal Saturday, 11 Sept.Round 17 Tweed Heads SeagullsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast30-18 Waine 2, Gilmo, Kapinias, Wane, Ase Boas Ase Boas 3 goals Legend:
Statistics
*Denotes player contracted to the Doncaster RLFC for the 2021 season
NameAppTGFGPts11----Ila Alu15----Kevin Appo103--12Jokadi Bire108--329121-46*51--4Norman Brown84--162----65--20113--12Dilbert Isaac4----Joe Joshua2----Epel Kapinias103--12Benji Kot157--2810---0Sylvester Namo131--4153--12Jordan Pat3----Gilmo Paul31--4Mark Piti7----Solomon Pokare3-1-2162--8169--36Judah Rimbu151--4Jeffrey Robert1----Charlie Simon14121-46Emmanuel Waine164--16Solo Wane99--36116--24Samuel Yegip152--8 Totals 74 43 0 386
References