2023 Papua New Guinea Hunters season
- Ila Alu
← 2022 | 2024 → |
The 2023 Hostplus Cup will be the PNG Hunters' tenth season in rugby league's Queensland Cup. The Papua New Guinea Hunters is a professional rugby league club from Papua New Guinea.
Train and trial partnership with Dolphins (NRL)
The PNG Hunters strategic partnership with Dolphins (NRL) saw four Hunters players Tai, Tanabi, Waine and Judah Rimbu trained with the Dolphins (NRL) side during NRL pre-season in January,2023. Waine then left to join the London Broncos[2] while Rodrick Tai was recalled together with Morea Morea in April to be part of the Dolphins for a month to train. Rodrick's trial got extended after the one month, while Morea returned to the Hunters in May.[3][4][5][6][7]
Season summary
Milestone games
Round | Player | Milestone |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | Morea Morea(#112), Siki Konden(#113), Sakias Komati(#114), Tom Moide(#115), Joshua Mire(#116), Valentine Richard(#117) | Hostplus Cup debuts |
Round 1 | Samson Komati | scored his first try |
Round 2 | Morea Morea | scored his first Hunters try |
Round 3 | Sanny Wabo(#118) | Hostplus Cup debut |
Round 5 | Junior Igila(#119), Trevor Solu(#120), Koso Badi(#121) | Hostplus Cup debuts |
Round 8 | Tom Moide | scored his first Hostplus Cup try |
Round 8 | Seal Kalo (Hunters #122) | Hostplus Cup debut |
Round 10 | Sanny Wabo | scored his first Hostplus Cup try |
Round 11 | Jamie Mavoko | scored his first Hostplus Cup try |
Round 12 | Junior Igila | scored his first Hostplus Cup try |
Round 13 | Joshua Lau (Hunters #123) | scored his first try on his Debut |
Round 14 | Joshua Mire | scored his first try at Hostplus cup level |
Round 15 | Trevor Solu | scored his first try at Hostplus cup level |
Round 16 | Whallen Tau-Loi (PNG Hunters #124) | Hostplus Cup debut |
Round 20 | Whallen Tau-Loi | First Hostplus Cup try |
Round 22 | Siki Konden | First Hostplus Cup try |
2023 squad
First team squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head coach Assistant coach
Updated: 03 February 2023 |
Squad movement
Gains
Player | Signed From | Until End of | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Epel Kapinias | Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 2023 | [9] |
Losses
Player | Signed To | Until End of | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Keven Appo | Bradford Bulls | 2023 | [10] |
Sylvester Namo | North Queensland Cowboys | 2023 | [11] |
Kitron Laka | Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 2023 | [12] |
Kingstimer Paraia | Souths Logan Magpies | 2023 | [13] |
Samuel Yegip | Central Queensland Capras | 2023 | [14] |
Emmanuel Waine | London Broncos | 2023 | [15] |
Wartovo Puara | Sepik Pride | 2023 | [16] |
Liam Joseph | Rabaul Gurias | 2023 | [17] |
Dilbert Isaac | Redcliffe Dolphins | 2023 | [18] |
Gilmo Paul | Port Moresby Vipers | 2023 | [19] |
Ladder
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 20 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 547 | 376 | 171 | 35 |
2 | ![]() | 20 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 588 | 392 | 196 | 34 |
3 | ![]() | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 573 | 432 | 141 | 33 |
4 | ![]() | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 511 | 387 | 124 | 30 |
5 | ![]() | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 564 | 443 | 121 | 29 |
6 | ![]() | 20 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 610 | 498 | 112 | 28 |
7 | ![]() | 20 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 363 | 442 | -79 | 28 |
8 | ![]() | 20 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 525 | 408 | 117 | 27 |
9 | ![]() | 20 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 614 | 478 | 136 | 26 |
10 | ![]() | 20 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 464 | 514 | -50 | 23 |
11 | ![]() | 20 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 551 | 530 | 21 | 22 |
12 | ![]() | 20 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 480 | 455 | 25 | 21 |
13 | ![]() | 20 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 452 | 684 | -232 | 10 |
14 | ![]() | 20 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 332 | 606 | -274 | 10 |
15 | ![]() | 20 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 342 | 871 | -529 | 4 |
- 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday 25 February | Trial 1 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 12-20 | Konden,Morea,Kot | |
Saturday 4 March | Trial 2 | Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, Fiji | 26-12 | Rop 3, Konden, Nima | [20] | |
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye |
Regular season
Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday, 12 March | Round 1 | ![]() | Clive Berghofer Stadium | 20-10 | Nima 2, Komati, Kot | Mavoko 2/4 goals | ||||
Saturday, 18 March | Round 2 | ![]() | Logan Metro Sports Park | 22-22 | Komati 2, Tai, Kot, Morea | Morea 1/5 goal | ||||
Saturday, 25 March | Round 3 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 36-38 | Morea 3, Wane, Nima, Alu, Yakopa | Morea 3/6, Komati 1/1 goals | ||||
Saturday, 8 April | Round 4 | BYE | - | |||||||
Saturday, 15 April | Round 5 | ![]() | Barlow Park | 14-34 | Tai, Komati, Nima | Solu 1/3 goal | ||||
Saturday, 22 April | Round 6 | ![]() | Pizzey Park | 20-46 | Rop, Kapinias, Nima, Komati | Morea 1/2, Solu 1/2 goals | ||||
Saturday, 29 April | Round 7 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 18-10 | Morea, Kot, Yakopa, Tai | Mavoko 1/4 | ||||
Saturday, 6 May | Round 8 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 40-28 | Nima 2, Morea, Tenza, Moide, Komati, Rop | Mavoko 6/7 | ||||
Friday, 12 May | Round 9 | ![]() | Jack Manski Oval | 4-54 | Wane | Mavoko 0/1 | ||||
Saturday, 20 May | Round 10 | ![]() | BMD Kougari Oval | 24-28 | Tai 2, Wabo 2, Jesse | Mavoko 2/5 | ||||
Saturday,27 May | Round 11 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 16-22 | Yakopa, Mavoko, Tenza | Mavoko 2/3 | ||||
Saturday, 3 June | Round 12 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 34-18 | Moide, Igila, Morea, Tai, Wane, Rop | Mavoko 5/6 | ||||
Saturday, 10 June | Round 13 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 40-4 | Moide, Nima, Lau, Kimisive, Wabo, Morea, Tai | Solu 5/6, Morea 1/1 | ||||
Saturday, 17 June | Round 14 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 10-40 | Kot, Mire | Solu 1/1, Mavoko 0/1 | ||||
Sunday, 25 June | Round 15 | ![]() | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 34-10 | Solu 2, Morea, Moide, Yakopa, Wane | Mavoko 4/5, Solu 1/1 | ||||
Saturday, 1 July | Round 16 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 14-8 | Rimbu, Wabo, Kot | Mavoko 1/2 Solu 0/1 | ||||
Saturday, 8 July | Round 17 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 22-30 | Nima, Kot, Morea, Wane | Morea (2/4 + 1 pen.) | ||||
Saturday, 15 July | Round 18 | BYE | ||||||||
Sunday, 30 July | Round 19 | ![]() | Totally Workwear Stadium | 18-32 | Tai, Wane, Kot | Mavoko 3/3 | ||||
Saturday, 5 August | Round 20 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 26-22 | Wane 2, Tau-Loi, Lau, Kot | Mavoko (2/5 + 1 pen.) | ||||
Saturday, 12 August | Round 21 | ![]() | PNG Football Stadium | 22-18 | Morea, Lau, Tau-Loi, Mavoko | Mavoko 3/4 | ||||
Saturday, 19 August | Round 22 | ![]() | Bishop Park | 30-40 | Rop, Mavoko, Komati, Rimbu, Konden | Mavoko (4/5 + 1 pen.) | [21] | |||
Legend: Win Loss Draw Bye |
Statistics
* | Denotes player on loan from the Central Queensland Capras. |
Name | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ila Alu | 18 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Koso Badi | 7 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Casey Dickson | 7 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Warren Glare | 4 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Junior Igila | 7 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Mathew Jesse | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Seal Kalo | 10 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Epel Kapinias | 20 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Philemon Kimisive | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Sakias Komati | 13 | 7 | 1 | - | 30 |
Siki Konden | 6 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Benji Kot | 16 | 8 | - | - | 32 |
Joshua Lau | 5 | 3 | - | - | 12 |
Jamie Mavoko | 18 | 3 | 37 | - | 86 |
Joshua Mire | 6 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Tom Moide | 16 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
Morea Morea | 20 | 11 | 9 | - | 62 |
Brandon Nima | 19 | 9 | - | - | 36 |
Valentine Richard | 4 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Judah Rimbu | 18 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
Junior Rop | 18 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
Trevor Solu | 8 | 2 | 8 | - | 24 |
Rodrick Tai | 19 | 8 | - | - | 32 |
Sherwin Tanabi | 7 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Whallen Tau-Loi | 5 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
Wesser Tenza | 11 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
Sanny Wabo | 8 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
Henry Wan | 12 | 0 | - | - | 0 |
Solo Wane | 20 | 8 | - | - | 32 |
Julius Yakopa | 11 | 4 | - | - | 16 |
Totals | 88 | 56 | 0 | 464 |
Representatives
The following players played representative matches in 2023.
PNG Prime Minister's XIII | 2023 Pacific Rugby League Championships | ||
---|---|---|---|
Seal Kalo | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | ||
Epel Kapinias | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | PNG Kumuls | |
Benji Kot | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | PNG Kumuls | |
Tommy Moide | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | ||
Morea Morea | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | ||
Judah Rimbu | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | PNG Kumuls | |
Junior Rop | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | PNG Kumuls | |
Rodrick Tai | PNG Prime Minister's XIII | PNG Kumuls |
References
- ^ "New Cup coaches of 2023: Tepend at Hunters". Queensland Rugby League. 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Broncos add explosive Papua New Guinea international Waine to 2023 squad". London Broncos RL. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Tai's NRL dream likely – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Hunters announce strategic pathways partnership with Dolphins". 19 May 2022.
- ^ Pannifex<, Oscar. "From Hunters to Dolphins: A New Era in PNG Rugby League". pnghunters.com. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Hunters clarify 'Phins deal – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
- ^ Pannifex, Oscar (25 April 2023). "Hunters invited to train with The Dolphins NRL squad - SP PNG Hunters". Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Hunters Confirm head coach and training Squad for 2023". www.pnghunters.com. 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Wynnum get Laka, re-sign Talita and release Kapinias – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
- ^ "Bradford Bulls - Rugby League Championship". www.bradfordbulls.co.uk.
- ^ Pryde, Scott (21 November 2022). "Cowboys set to provide Kumuls forward with NRL opportunity". Zero Tackle.
- ^ "Kitron Laka Becomes a Seagull in 2023 - Wynnum Manly Seagulls". 17 November 2022.
- ^ "PNG Hunters: Cup gains and losses 2023". Queensland Rugby League. 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Enforcer Samuel Yegip finds new home with Central Queensland Capras". postcourier.com.pg.
- ^ Media, Broncos (1 February 2023). "Broncos add explosive Papua New Guinea international Waine to 2023 squad".
- ^ Sports, Loop (16 February 2023). "Sepik Pride sign on Puara and Boas". Loop PNG.
- ^ "Pride recruit two more Hunters for inaugural season – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/12/02/brightons-kumuls-recruit-fuels-lofty-club-wide-goals/ [bare URL]
- ^ Nangoi, Donald (12 April 2023). "Paul given life, Wigmen confirm suspension". Post Courier. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Hunters Overcome Silktails In First Melanesian Bowl – Kaiviti Silktails".
- ^ "Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership draws released". Queensland Rugby League. 23 December 2022.