The Papua New Guinea Hunters is a professional rugby league club from Papua New Guinea that participates in the Queensland Cup in Australia. Their 2022 official 27-man squad relocated to Runaway Bay, Gold Coast for the second year in a row. The 2022 Hostplus Cup was the PNG Hunters' ninth season in rugby league's Queensland Cup after securing their future with a four-year license from 2019 until 2022. They reappointed Matt Church as their head coach to be supported by Assistant Coaches, Stanley Tepend and Paul Aiton. Two of the Hunters players, Anthony Worot and Sherwin Tanabi, were given a one week train and trial with the Cowboys Young Guns and featured in the trial match for the Young Guns against the Mackay Cutters.
The Hunters announced a new strategic player pathways partnership with Dolphins, with four PNG Hunters players joining Dolphins for a full NRL pre-season. Two of these players remained with the Dolphins for the full NRL season commencing in 2023, and played for the Hunters on the weekends when not in the Top 17 team.
Season summary Round 1:
Milestone games Round Player Milestone Round 1Rodrick Tai (#100), Mark Tony (#101), Wesser Tenza (#102), Kingstimer Paraia (#103) Hostplus Cup debutsRound 1Kevin Appo PNG Hunters captaincy debutRound 3Mathew Jesse (#104), Jamie Mavoko (#105), Anthony Worot (#106) Hostplus Cup debutsRound 3Rodrick Tai Scored his first Hostplus Cup tryRound 5Sherwin Tanabi (#107) HC debutRound 7Kitron Laka (#108) HC debutRound 8Tyler Han (#109) HC debutRound 8Brandon Nima PNG Hunters captaincy debutRound 8Tony Worot, Mathew Jesse and Tyler Han Scored their first Hostplus cup triesRound 10Kitron Laka Scored his first Hostplus cup tryRound 13Dilbert Isaac 50th Hostplus cup matchRound 15Judah Rimbu scored his first Hostplus Cup tryRound 16Brandon Nima 50th Hostplus cup matchRound 16Liam Joseph (#110) and Francis Kembis (#111) Hostplus Cup debutsRound 16Liam Joseph scored his first Hostplus Cup tryRound 17Francis Kembis scored his first Hostplus Cup tryRound 19Wesser Tenza scored his first Hostplus Cup try
2022 squad
Squad movement Gains Player Signed from Until end of NotesMathew JesseWaghi TumbeFrancis KembisWaghi TumbeLiam JosephRabaul GuriasKitron LakaLae Snax TigersJamie MavokoLae Snax TigersJunior RopLae Snax TigersRodrick TaiLae Snax TigersSherwin TanabiLae Snax TigersMark TonyLae Snax TigersWesser TenzaMendi MuruksKingstimer ParaiaPort Moresby VipersTyler HanRunaway Bay Seagulls
Losses Player Signed to Until end of NotesStanton AlbertPort Moresby VipersAse BoasRabaul GuriasEnoch MakiPort Moresby VipersJokadi BireRetired on Medical conditionCasey DicksonVilleneuve XIII RLLGJeffrey RobertHela WigmenCharlie SimonMendi MuruksMark Piti Lae Snax TigersJoe JoshuaMt. Hagen EaglesNorman BrownHela WigmenBrendon GotunoPort Moresby VipersEdwin IpapeLeigh CenturionsEpel KapiniasWynnum Manly SeagullsSolomon PokareHela WigmenJunior RauMt. Hagen EaglesAnthony Worot Kimbe CuttersSamuel Yegip Hela Wigmen
Ladder PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Burleigh Bears1914141634356278312 Sunshine Coast Falcons1913151470326144293 Redcliffe Dolphins1912071518359 159264 Norths Devils1912071 46945910265 Central Queensland Capras 1911171472 394 78256 Tweed Heads Seagulls191018147438886237 Brisbane Tigers1910181452454-2238 Northern Pride RLFC199191370 391 -2121 9 Wynnum Manly Seagulls1990101 494422 722010 Townsville Blackhawks1972101445443 21811 Mackay Cutters1980111444484 -401812 Papua New Guinea Hunters1971111389531 -1421713 Ipswich Jets1940151326712 -3841014 Souths Logan Magpies1921151346586-2407
The team highlighted in blue clinched the minor premiership. Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals. The team highlighted in red clinched the wooden spoon.
Fixtures Pre-season Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Saturday 5 MarchTrial 1 CQ CaprasGladstone10-20Wane, Paraia Paraia goalSaturday 12 MarchTrial 2 Wests PanthersFrank Lind Oval, Mitchelton 18-14 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals AttendanceSaturday, 19 MarchRound 1 Mackay CuttersBB Print Stadium16-10Wane, Isaac Rimbu 4 goals Saturday, 26 MarchRound 2 CQ CaprasBrowne Park16-26Paraia, Wapi, Nima Rimbu 2 goals Sunday, 3 AprilRound 3 Brisbane TigersBycroft Oval, Gold Coast12-22Tai, Waine Mavoko 2 goals Saturday, 9 AprilRound 4 Sunshine Coast FalconsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast8-22Appo Mavoko 2 goals Monday, 25 AprilRound 5 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park0-34 Saturday, 30th AprilRound 6 BYE Saturday, 7 MayRound 7 Norths DevilsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast24-28 Wane, Nima, Wapi, ParaiaParaia 4 goals Friday, 13 MayRound 8 Townsville BlackhawksJack Manski Oval42-20 Namo 2, Jesse, Worot, Nima, Wane, Waine, Han Paraia 5 goals Saturday, 21 MayRound 9 Redcliffe DolphinsBycroft Oval, Gold Coast16-30Namo, Tai, Isaac Mavoko 2 goals Sunday, 5 JuneRound 10 Tweed Heads SeagullsTugun RLFC, Tugun22-24Appo, Nima, Laka, Wapi Mavoko 2, Paraia goals Saturday, 11 JuneRound 11 Souths Logan MagpiesBycroft Oval, Gold Coast26-22Isaac 2, Wapi, Tai, Wane Mavoko 2, Paraia goals Sunday, 19 JuneRound 12 Northern PrideBarlow Park6-30Gilmo Tony goal Saturday, 2 JulyRound 13 Ipswich JetsNorth Ipswich Reserve18-36Wane, Nima, TaiMavoko 3 goals Saturday, 9 JulyRound 14 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane36-22Wane 2, Laka, Appo, Rop, AluParaia 5, Rimbu goals Sunday, 17 JulyRound 15 CQ CaprasBycroft Oval, Gold Coast24-62Nima, Appo, Rimbu, Tai Paraia 4 goals Saturday, 23 July Round 16 Brisbane TigersJohn Kerr Park, Cunnamulla32-24Laka 2, Han, Paraia, Pat, Joseph Rimbu 4 goals Sunday, 7 AugustRound 17 Sunshine Coast FalconsSunshine Coast Stadium6-44Kembis Paraia goal Saturday, 13 August Round 18 Townsville BlackhawksBycroft Oval, Gold Coast 23-23Kot 2, Wane, Laka Paraia 3 goals, 1 drop goal Saturday, 20 August Round 19 Burleigh Bears Bycroft Oval32-24Han, Kot, Tenza, Rimbu, KembisParaia 5 goals, 1 pen. Saturday, 27 August Round 20 Mackay CuttersPNG Football Stadium 30-28Tai, Kot, Joseph, Waine, Tanabi, Puara Paraia 3 goals Legend:
Statistics
NameAppTGFGPtsIla Alu81--4 164--16Casey Dickson3----Tyler Han103--12 154--16Mathew Jesse71--4Liam Joseph42--8Francis Kembis52--8Benji Kot104--16Kitron Laka125--20Jamie Mavoko9-13-26163--12186--24Kingstimer Paraia17333179Jordan Pat81--4Gilimo Paul81--4Wartovo Puara141--4Judah Rimbu13211-30Junior Rop171--4156--24151--4131--4Mark Tony13-1-2 183--12178--3284--16Tony Worot31--4Samuel Yegip11---- Totals 68 58 1 389
Representatives The following players played representative matches in 2022.
Pacific Test PNG Prime Minister's XIII World CupDilbert Isaac Solo Wane Wartovo Puara Sylvester Namo Emmanuel Waine Keven Appo Rodrick Tai Sherwin Tanabi Wesser Tenza Judah Rimbu Francis Kembis Brandon Nima
References