Papua New Guinea Hunters

The Papua New Guinea Hunters (PNG Hunters) are a professional rugby league football club based in Papua New Guinea. They were formed in December 2013 and currently compete in the Queensland Rugby League's Intrust Super Cup, a second tier of rugby league in Australia.[3] The Hunters are the second Papua New Guinean side to enter the Intrust Super Cup following the Port Moresby Vipers who competed for two seasons in 1996 and 1997. Every Hunters match is shown live on national free-to-air television. The Hunters' home ground is the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby and their team colours are red, black and gold.[4] The Hunters won the Intrust Super Cup in Queensland in 2017.

Papua New Guinea Hunters
Club information
Full namePapua New Guinea Hunters Rugby league Football Club
Nickname(s)The Hunters
Short namePNG Hunters
Colours  Red
  Black
  Gold
Founded2013 (2013)
Websitewww.pnghunters.com
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOScott Barker[1]
ChairmanStan Joyce
CoachMatt Church
CaptainIla Alu & Kevin Appo[2]
CompetitionHostplus Cup
Records
Premierships'1 (2017)
Runners-up0
Minor premiership1 (2017)
Most capped' - 127 Wartovo Puara

Papua New Guinea NRL Bid

The Australian Labor Party have pledged their support behind the PNG Hunters entering the National Rugby League competition.[5] Papua New Guinea have introduced a National Schools Rugby League Championships[6] which started in 2019 to prepare its junior rugby league talent from the six year olds[7] to the Under 18 divisions for the future.[8] The PNG Government, Australian Government, PNGRFL and QRL signed an agreement which will see the Australian Government assisting to develop the sport in the country.[9] Titled 'Growing and Supporting Rugby League in Papua New Guinea', it is an Australian Government initiative to develop pathways for PNG teams[10] like the Hunters Under 19s[11][12] and Hunters Women's[13] to play in high-level Australian sporting competitions with a focus on female athlete development, wellbeing and education, and commercial sustainability under the three year program.[14]

Stadiums

Kalabond Oval
Main article: Kalabond Oval

The Kalabond Oval which is in the town of Kokopo and has a capacity of 7,000 was the Hunters first home ground. The first ever home match in the Intrust Super Cup was against the defending champions Mackay Cutters on 8 March 2014 which the Hunters won 24-16. The ground was used for the club's first 2 seasons.

National Football Stadium
Main article: National Football Stadium

The National Football Stadium is in the capital city Port Moresby and after undergoing a major refurbishment it was announced in February 2016 that the Hunters would move to the ground for the 2016 season,[15] after they'd played one match there during the 2015 season against Souths Logan Magpies on 13 June 2015 winning 34-12.

2022 squad
PNG Hunters
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Judah Rimbu – SO, HK
  • Emmanuel Waine – SR, LK, CE
  • Casey Dickson – PR
  • Wessa Tenza – HK
  • Anthony Worot – PR
  • Kingstimer Paraia – HK
  • Francis Kembis – LK
  • Samuel Yegip – PR
  • Jordan Pat – PR
  • Kitron Laka – SR
  • Liam Joseph – WG
  • Sherwin Tanabi – SR
  • Terry Wapi – FB
  • Ila Alu – LK (c)
  • Jordan Paiyo – PR
  • Tyler Han – SO
  • Emmanuel Kiddie – LK

Head coach

  • Matthew Church

Assistant coaches

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

Updated: 27 January 2022
Source(s): [16]

Notable players

See also

References
  1. https://www.pnghunters.com/2021/10/25/hunters-reappoint-barker-to-ceo-role/
  2. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/01/28/png-hunters-cup-gains-and-losses-for-2022/
  3. "Papua New Guinea gain entry to Queensland Cup 2014". ABC News. 28 November 2013.
  4. Pangkatana, John (24 December 2013). "Q-Cup name unveiled". The National.
  5. "Sport: Australia's Labor commits to backing PNG team in NRL". 19 December 2018.
  6. "Schools league gets K6 million – the National".
  7. "League unveils mini mod concept". 5 May 2019.
  8. "K6 million windfall for schools, KPHL invigorates PNGRFL program". 17 June 2021.
  9. "Australia, PNG ink sport deal – the National".
  10. "Investment in game's future – the National".
  11. "Junior Hunters eyed – the National".
  12. "Vital to build on relocation – the National".
  13. "Australia, PNG ink sport deal – the National".
  14. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2021/04/01/qrl-takes-lead-in-unique-pacific-program
  15. one.png.com/2016/02/national-football-stadium-is-new-home.html
  16. "Hunters Name Official 26-man Squad". www.postcourier.com.pg. 27 January 2022.
  17. "Justin Olam - Storm". www.melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017.
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