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.[1] 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.[2] 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
Founded2014
Websitewww.pnghunters.com
Current details
Ground(s)
  • National Football Stadium [14,800], since 2016
    Kalabond Oval [7,000], 2014-2015
CEOReatau Rau
ChairmanSudhir Guru
CoachMathew Church
ManagerRonnie Titie
CaptainAse Boas
CompetitionIntrust Super Cup
Records
Premierships1 (2017)
Runners-up0
Minor premiership1 (2017)

Papua New Guinea NRL Bid

The Australian Labor Party have pledged their support behind the PNG Hunters entering the National Rugby League competition.[3] Papua New Guinea have introduced a National Schools Rugby League Competition which started in 2019 to prepare its junior rugby league talent from the six year olds[4] to the Under 18 divisions for the future.[5]

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 clubs first 2 seasons.

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,[6] after they'd played one match their during the 2015 season against Souths Logan Magpies on 13 June 2015 winning 34-12.

2020 squad
PNG Hunters
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Smith Siviri - CE
  • Gairo Kapana - WG
  • Baundo Aba - LK

Head coach

  • Mathew Church

Assistant coach

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

Updated: 3 January 2020
Source(s): [7]

[8]

Notable players

See also

References
  1. "Papua New Guinea gain entry to Queensland Cup 2014". ABC News. 28 November 2013.
  2. Pangkatana, John (24 December 2013). "Q-Cup name unveiled". The National.
  3. https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378659/sport-australia-s-labor-commits-to-backing-png-team-in-nrl
  4. https://postcourier.com.pg/league-unveils-mini-mod-concept/
  5. https://postcourier.com.pg/soft-drink-giant-wins-naming-rights-schools-competition/
  6. one.png.com/2016/02/national-football-stadium-is-new-home.html
  7. "Wigmen duo make final cut- Pacific Star Limited". thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. "Trial matches scheduled for Hunters". Loop PNG. 25 November 2019.
  9. http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/team/profiles/justin_olam.html
  10. https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2019/07/25/rabbitohs-sign-edene-gebbie/
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