2021 Papua New Guinea Hunters season

Last updated

2021 Papua New Guinea Hunters season
Queensland Cup Rank10th
2021 recordWins: 6; losses: 11
Points scoredFor: 386; against: 479
Team information
CEOScott Barker
CoachMathew Church
Captain
  • Ila Alu
StadiumBycroft Oval, Gold Coast
Top scorers
Tries9 (Junior Rau, Solo Wane)
Goals21 (Charlie Simon, Ase Boas)
Points46 (Charlie Simon, Ase Boas)
←  2020 2022  →

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. [1] A 37-man train-on squad was announced for the pre season [2] before it was trimmed and the final squad finalized. [3] Doncaster RLFC agreed for Watson Boas to play with the Hunters squad until he was able to return to the United Kingdom. [4] 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' [5] 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 [6] [7] to take part in high-level Australian sporting competitions [8] 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. [9] [10]

Contents

Season summary

Milestone games

RoundPlayerMilestone
Round 1Jokadi Bire, Samuel Yegip, Edwin Ipape, Benji Kot, Emmanuel Waine, Sylvester Namo and Judah RimbuISC debut
Round 4Norman BrownISC debut
Round 5Jeffrey RobertISC debut
Round 6 Tom Butterfield Hunters debut
Round 7Solo WaneISC debut
Round 8Solomon PokareISC debut
Round 12 Junior Rau 50th Game
Round 19Gilmo PaulISC Debut (Hunter #98)
Round 17 Enoch Maki 100th Game

2021 squad

PNG Hunters
First team squadCoaching staff
  • Edwin Ipape – HK, SO, FB
  • Emmanuel Waine – SR, CE
  • Epel Kapinias – SR, PR
  • Judah Rimbu – HK, SO
  • Dilbert Isaac – PR, LK [12]
  • Samuel Yegip – PR
  • Norman Brown – FB, WG
  • Jordan Pat – PR
  • Mark Piti – PR
  • Sylvester Namo – SR
  • Jeffrey Robert – SR
  • Joe Joshua – FB, CE
  • Solomon Pokare – HB
  • Gilmo Paul – CE
  • Jokadi Bire – CE

Head coach

  • Mathew Church

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 13 January 2021
Source(s): [13]

Squad movement

Gains

PlayerSigned FromUntil End ofNotes
Solomon Pokare Hela Wigmen
2021
Judah Rimbu Hela Wigmen
2021
Jokadi Bire Balmain colours.svg Lae Snax Tigers
2021
Benji Kot Kimbe Cutters
2021
Samuel Yegip Hela Wigmen
2021
Jeffrey Robert Hela Wigmen
2021
Sylvester Namo Lae Snax Tigers
2021
Edwin Ipape Balmain colours.svg Lae Snax Tigers
2021
Norman Brown Hela Wigmen
2021
Gilmo Paul Hela Wigmen
2021
Solo Wane Hela Wigmen
2021
Watson Boas Doncaster RLFC (loan)
2021
Wartovo Puara Barrow Raiders
2021

Losses

PlayerSigned ToUntil End ofNotes
Shane Nigel Port Moresby Vipers
2021
Joe Frank Waghi Tumbe
2021
Patrick Morea Hela Wigmen
2021
Rhadley Brawa Enga Mioks
2021
Junior Rop Lae Snax Tigers
2021
Steven Bruno Rabaul Gurias
2021
Justin Yoka Kimbe Cutters
2021
Nicky Oliver Central Dabaris
2021
Francis Takai Rabaul Gurias
2021
Roy Elison Rabaul Gurias
2021
Casey Dickson Lae Snax Tigers
2021
Stanley Olo Lae Snax Tigers
2021

Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Norths Devils colours.svg Norths Devils 171502052132020130
2 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls 171205051337413924
3 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Burleigh Bears 171205045734211524
4 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tweed Heads Seagulls 17102504583847422
5 Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins 17110604503975322
6 Souths-Logan Magpies Colours.svg Souths Logan Magpies 17101605174467121
7 Townsville Blackhawks colours.png Townsville Blackhawks 17917046836110719
8 Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Sunshine Coast Falcons 1790804483905818
9 Northern Pride colours.png Northern Pride 179080376387-1118
10 Port Moresby Vipers Colours.svg Papua New Guinea Hunters 1760110386479-9312
11 Balmain colours.svg Brisbane Tigers 1741120364456-929
12 Mackay Cutters colours.svg Mackay Cutters 1740130330556-2268
13 Ipswich Colours.svg Ipswich Jets 1731130365561-1967
14 Central Comets colours.svg Central Queensland Capras 1712140303503-2004

Fixtures

Pre-season

DateRoundOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoals

Regular season

DateRoundOpponentVenueScoreTriesGoalsAttendance
Saturday, 20 MarchRound 1 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast18-20Bire, Wapi, Puara Simon 3 goals
Saturday, 27 MarchRound 2 Ipswich Colours.svg Ipswich Jets Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast44-22 Gotuno 3, Kapinias 2, Wapi, Bire, Ipape Simon 6 goals
Saturday, 10 AprilRound 3 Mackay Cutters colours.svg Mackay Cutters BB Print Stadium 26-14Yegip, Namo, Rau, W.Boas, Ipape Simon 3 goals
Saturday, 17 AprilRound 4 Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Sunshine Coast Falcons Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast32-12Kot 2, Brown 2, Wapi, YegipSimon 4 goals
Saturday, 24 AprilRound 5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Burleigh Bears Pizzey Park 18-25Bire, Brown, Nima, Wapi Simon goal
Sunday, 9 MayRound 6 Balmain colours.svg Brisbane Tigers Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast12-40Bire, BrownSimon 2 goals
Sunday, 16 MayRound 7 Souths-Logan Magpies Colours.svg Souths Logan Magpies Davies Park 14-48Waine, Wane ,BirePokare goal
Saturday, 29 MayRound 8 Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins Moreton Daily Stadium 12-24 Rau 2, Kot
Saturday, 5 JuneRound 9 Townsville Blackhawks colours.png Townsville Blackhawks Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast28-38Bire 2, Appo 2, Nima, Kot Ase Boas 2 goals
Saturday, 12 JuneRound 10 Norths Devils colours.svg Norths Devils Bishop Park22-38Wane, Kot, Bire, Appo Ase Boas 3 goals
Sunday, 20 JuneRound 11 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Burleigh Bears Cbus Super Stadium 6-40 Rau Ase Boas goal
Saturday, 10 JulyRound 13 Sunshine Coast Colours.svg Sunshine Coast Falcons Sunshine Coast Stadium 12-26Kot 2 Ase Boas 2 goals
Saturday, 17 JulyRound 14 Northern Pride colours.png Northern Pride Atherton Stadium, Artheton34-22Wane 3, Nima, Rau, Simon Ase Boas 4 , Simon goals
Saturday, 24 JulyRound 12 Mackay Cutters colours.svg Mackay Cutters Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast30-40 Rau 3, Gotuno 2, Wane Ase Boas 3 goals
Saturday, 31 JulyRound 15 Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls Eskdale Park, MaryboroughRound 15 cancelled [15]
Saturday, 21 AugustRound 18 Balmain colours.svg Brisbane Tigers Totally Workwear Stadium Round 18 cancelled [16]
Sunday, 29 AugustRound 19 Souths-Logan Magpies Colours.svg Souths Logan Magpies Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast26-32 Wapi 2, Puara, Yegip, Waine Ase Boas 3 goals
Saturday, 4 Sept.Round 16 Central Comets colours.svg CQ Capras Browne Park 22-20Wane 2, Rimbu, Rau, Ipape Simon goal
Saturday, 11 Sept.Round 17 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tweed Heads Seagulls Bycroft Oval, Gold Coast30-18Waine 2, Gilmo, Kapinias, Wane, Ase Boas Ase Boas 3 goals
Legend:   Win  Loss  Draw  Bye

[17]

Statistics

*Denotes player contracted to the Doncaster RLFC for the 2021 season
Name App T G FG Pts
Stanton Albert 11----
Ila Alu15----
Kevin Appo103--12
Jokadi Bire108--32
Ase Boas 9121-46
Watson Boas *51--4
Norman Brown84--16
Tommy Butterfield 2----
Brendon Gotuno 65--20
Edwin Ipape 113--12
Dilbert Isaac4----
Joe Joshua2----
Epel Kapinias103--12
Benji Kot157--28
Enoch Maki 10---0
Sylvester Namo131--4
Brandon Nima 153--12
Jordan Pat3----
Gilmo Paul31--4
Mark Piti7----
Solomon Pokare3-1-2
Wartovo Puara 162--8
Junior Rau 169--36
Judah Rimbu151--4
Jeffrey Robert1----
Charlie Simon14121-46
Emmanuel Waine164--16
Solo Wane99--36
Terry Wapi 116--24
Samuel Yegip152--8
Totals74430386

Honours

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References

  1. ↑ "Hunters secure Intrust Super Cup future". Loop PNG. 7 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "PNG Hunters 2021 Pre-Season Squad Named". www.postcourier.com.pg. 19 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "PNG Hunters name assistant coach and final 2021 squad". www.qrl.com.au. 12 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Doncaster Rugby League". Doncaster Rugby League. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  5. ↑ https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/04/01/qrl-takes-lead-in-unique-pacific-program%5B%5D
  6. ↑ "Junior Hunters eyed – the National".
  7. ↑ "Vital to build on relocation – the National".
  8. ↑ "Australia, PNG ink sport deal – the National".
  9. 1 2 "Hunters recruit Knights legend – the National".
  10. ↑ "Hunters appoint new general manager". 19 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Alu to captain SP Hunters/Five Debutants Named". 16 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Isaac and Pat recalled by PNG Hunters". 21 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "PNG Hunters name assistant coach and final 2021 squad". Qrl Media. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "PNG Hunters: Gains and losses 2021". QRL. 16 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "Statement: Statewide competitions update". 2 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Intrust Super Cup and Hastings Deering Colts update". 16 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "QRL releases 2021 intrust super cup draw". QRL Media. 10 December 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
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