PNG Hunters set for North Devils

The Papua New Guinea SP Hunters are set for Intrust Super Cup round 7 match against the North Devils  on Saturday night at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby . Coach Michael Marum has made several changes in key position. 

Adex Wera will celebrate his 50 game mark replacing Stargroth Amean at fullback. 

Utility player, Atte Bina has been recalled along with  center Thompson Teteh. 

Playmaker, Wartovo Puara Jr has been omitted from the squad to give time for him to recover from niggling injuries

The North Devils are coming with a determination to beat the Hunters on their home turf.  They defeated Mackay Cutters 32 - 16 last week and  they will be  looking for another win against the  equal-ladder leaders, the Hunters.  

Hunters: 1. Adex Wera, 2. Justin Olam, 3. Noel Zeming (C), 4. Thompson Teteh, 5. William Aquila, 6. Watson Boas, 7. Atte Bina, 8. Henry Wan, 9. Warren Glare, 10. Esau Siune, 11. Ishmael Balkawa, 12. Adam Korave, 13. Brandy Peter; Reserves: 14. Ase Boas, 15. Timothy Lomai, 16. Benjamin Hetra, 17. Edward Goma, 18. Tuvi Lepan, 19. Wartovo Puara Jr, 20. Bland Abavu (three to be omitted).

NORTHS DEVILS (8th) vs PNG HUNTERS (3rd) —

 Saturday, 6.30pm 

National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Live : TV Want Sports HD / NBC TV 

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PNG Hunters team for Round 7 against North Devils announced

PNG Hunters in action Blackhawks last week. Hunters won 11- 10
Photo credit: PNGHutners/FB

The SP Papua New Guinea  Hunters team to face North Devils in round 7 of the Intrust Super Cup match  at the National Football Stadium has been announced. Several changes have been made by coach Michael Marum. 

Star fullback Stargroth Amean has been dropped and Adex Wera takes the position of fullback for this match.  Utility player, Atte Bina has been recalled along with  center Thompson Teteh. 

Playmaker, Wartovo Puara Jr has been omitted from the squad to give time for him to recover from niggling injuries. 

The Hunters squad for the Round Seven match against the North Devils at the NFS on Saturday (6.30pm): 1 Adex Wera, 2. Justin Olam. 3. Noel Zeming (Co-Captain), 4. Thompson Teteh, 5. William Aquila, 6. Watson Boas, 7. Atte Bina, 8. Henry Wan, 9. Warren Glare, 10. Esau Siune, 11. Ishmael Balkawa, 12, Adam Korave, 13. Brandy Peter, 14. Ase Boas, 15. Timothy Lomai, 16. Benjamin Hetra, 17. Edward Goma, 18 Tuvi Lapan, 19. Wartovo Puara Jr, 20. Bland Abavu (Three to be omitted)

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Digicel Cup 2016 season launched

The 2016 Digicel Cup Rugby Competition was launched yesterday as the season Kicks off throughout the country on Sunday 17th April.

Digicel has for the 6th year this year sponsored the running of the competition.

Digicel Play will be providing coverage of the matches and if viewers have a Digicel Play box they can watch the matches on TVWAN Rugby & Sports Channels.

All the teams Rabaul Gurias, Simbu Lions, Goroka Lahanis, Gulf Isapeas, POM Vipers, Hagen Eagles, Hela Wigman, Lae Tigers, Waghi Tumbe, Mendi Muruks & Enga Mioks, are the teams that will be taking part in competition which will have 20matches running for over 90 days in a round robin match structure. PNGFM/ PNG Today

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PNG Hunters down Townville Blackhawks 11 – 10

The SP Papua New Guinea Hunters have defeated competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks 11 – 10  in a tightly contested game at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby this afternoon.  Hunters playmaker Ase Boas kicked the winning  field goal  right on full time.

In the first quarter of the game, both teams exchange huge hits in a physical game. The Hunters opened the score board through the enforcer, Adam Korave. Captain  Zeming  sent the ball between the uprights to put the home side in front 6 – 0. 

The visitors muscled up and sent former Kumul  Rhys Martin to score next to the uprights. Mitchel converted the try and leveled the score 6 – 6 all. 

Former Hunter, Willie Minoga bulldozed through the Hunters defence line to score for the visitors . The conversion was successful and the visitors led 10 – 6 at half time. 

In the second half, the game intensified with big hits but riddled with dropped balls as both teams showed strength in defence and attack.  The Hunters kept the visitors scoreless in the second half.  On the 65th minute, Hunters winger  Justin Olam crashed over the corner that sent the 10 000 plus crowd into rapture. Zeming strayed the ball away and the score was leveled 10  - 10 all.

In the final 10 minutes, the visitors muscled up and threw everything and attacked the Hunters line but the Hunters held on with solid defence. An attempted field goal by Blackhawks hooker did not find the uprights and the Hunters got possession of the ball. 

In the next play, the Hunters forwards  ran hard and  strong and took the ball to the visitors territory. Play maker, Ase Boas sent the ball between the posts for a field goal that showed first defeat for  the Townsville Blackhawks. The Hunters won  11 – 10

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PNG Hunters set for Townsville Blackhawks

The Papua New Guinea SP Hunters are set for this afternoon's round six Intrust Super Cup clash against the competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. A huge crowd of around 15000 is expected for this match to see the return of "Freight Train" Willie Minoga in Blackhawks colours.

The Townsville Blackhawks are a ‘prized catch’ have already set the bar with not only five wins, but big wins as well. Minus regulars in Ase Boas, Thompson Teteh, Ate Bine and Bland Abavu for varying reasons, Marum welcomes back the ‘Koiari enforcer’ Adam Korave to add beef to their stocks. Korave returns after being cited for a dangerous tackle in their first home game against the Tweed Head Seagulls. The two-week suspension has put Korave in the right frame of mind to perform…something Marum exploits very well. 

Whilst it doesn’t take much for the workaholic lock to be on top of his game, the competitive edge for positions is always on the back of his mind. And with Korave having only played one game so far this season, he will be keen to come off the bench with fire in his belly to cement his spot. The naming of last weekends man of the match Enock Maki, fast improving Philemon Kimisive and mister versatile Edward Goma also on the bench within the 17, Marum has left nothing to chance with the power game on the card. 

“The Blackhawks are a class outfit and as long as we concentrate on what we are trained to do and ensure our preparation is good, we will be competitive,” Marum said after training yesterday. Form winger Justin Olam returns to the wing after attending his graduation from the University of Technology, while Nickson Borana having suffered an ankle injury, has opened the door for Ishamel Balkawa. The unlikely halves pairing of Watson Boas and Wartovo Puara Jr continues, while winger William Aquila has won admirers for his opening start. 

Blackhawks

: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Hezron Murgha 3. Moses Pangai 4. Delouise Hoeter 5. Samsen O’Neill 6. Kyle Laybutt 7. Michael Parker-Walshe 8. Glenn Hall (c) 9. Anthony Mitchell (c) 10. Corey Jensen 11. Lona Kaifoto 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Lorenzo Maafu 14. Nathan Norford 15. Kieran Quabba 16. Willie Minoga 17. David Munro Coach: Kristian Woolf

Hunters Team : 1 Adex Wera,  2 Justin Olam, 3 Noel  Zeming (C), 4 Adex Wera,  5 William Aquila,  6 Watson Boas,  7 Wartovo Puara Jr,  8 Henry Wan,  9 Warren Glare ,  10 Esau Siune,  11 Nickson Borana,  12 Tupi Lepan,  13 Brandy Peter,  Reserves  14 Adam Korave,  15 Timothy Lomai , 

16 Enock Maki,  17 Edward Goma,  18 Gahuna Sailas (one to be omitted).

Coach: Michael Marum

PNG Hunters v Townsville Blackhawks 

National Football Stadium on Saturday, April 10 – 3pm

Referee: Michael Gordon

Head-to-Head: PNG 2 Townsville 1

Twitter: #intrustsupercup #PNGvTSVB

Live Telecast: TVWAN Sports HD  / NBC News network 

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PNG Hunters face Competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks

By MICHAEL THOMPSON - Townsville Bulletin

Townsville Blackhawks co-captains Glenn Hall and Anthony Mitchell. THE Townsville Blackhawks are counting down the days for what could be their most demanding clash yet of this year’s Intrust Super Cup. The ladder leading Blackhawks play the PNG Hunters on Sunday in Port Moresby, where the passion for rugby league is boundless and the footy is played hard.

Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf yesterday named an unchanged 17 from the one that thumped Tweed Heads 42-8 last week, keeping the Blackhawks unbeaten run intact, but changes are likely to be made later this week as players recover from niggling injuries, including Jonathon Reuben. Blackhawks co-captain Glenn Hall says his teammates are treating the Round 6 encounter as any other game, but does concede the rugged Hunters will present a formidable opponent in their own backyard. “All teams in this competition are going to be tough and we’re preparing for another tough game against hard men who play a physical style,” Hall said. “But if you’re not ready for contact, you’ll be in for a shock. “Every team in this competition has stepped up their game this year, but going across that ditch throws up different challenges, such as longer travel time, and some guys have not experienced a game like this before. “It’s a great experience and you want to soak up the atmosphere, the crowd and all that, but it’s a tough game.” The Blackhawks have played in PNG once, visiting Kokopo last year in Round 20 where they lost 28-26. Hall played in that game along with a host of other NRL experienced players including Kyle Feldt, Ray Thompson and Kelepi Tanginoa. “It was my first time playing there and it was everything that people told me it would be,” Hall said. “The crowd was fantastic and the trip was a great experience, but it’s a game where you have to be ready to roll up your sleeves.” A number of younger Blackhawks players are set play ISC in PNG for the first time, including five-eighth Kyle Laybutt and interchange forwards David Munro and Kieran Quabba. Hall said their recent efforts had put them on the right track for the latest challenge ahead of them. “It’s up to blokes like myself and Ant (Mitchell) to arm them with the knowledge that we know, so come game time they’re ready to go,” Hall said. “But these young guys coming in for us are not just making up numbers, they’re taking their opportunities. “They’re keeping their spots and that’s creating competition which is keeping everyone hungry and motivated. “It’s all healthy and like ‘Woolfy’ has said, it doesn’t matter who we put out there, everyone will do their jobs and play to the Blackhawks’ standard.”

HUNTERS LATE CHANGE: SP Hunters coach Michael Marum has had to make minor adjustment to his starting line-up due to the unavailability of one of his consistent performers in prop Henry Wan. Wan won’t be available due to personal reasons. This has opened the door for the likely inclusion of prop Timothy Lomai into the 17 for his first match for the season, and whilst it’s not confirmed yet, Adam Korave may likely get the call-up to a starting role at lock and Brandy Peter be shifted to work in tandem with Esau Siune up front.

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SP Brewery sponsors cricket PNG

PNG national cricketers can expect better results from training programs this year after SP Brewery came on board again with a sponsor of K200, 000 for Cricket PNG.

Cricket PNG General Manager Mr. Greg Campbell when receiving the cheque in Port Moresby today said the sponsor will get more new players in, including the kids for the junior programs.

“This sponsor will assist CPNG in developing high performance programs for the National Teams,” he said.

SP Brewery Managing Director Stan Joyce said the sponsor also goes to show the support SP is giving to sporting programs that develop young upcoming Papua New Guinean sporting talents.

SP Brewery who has sponsored CPNG in the past renew this relationship under its newcomer export brand Radler. This now means the national cricket teams; the Hebou Barramundis and the City Pharmacy Lewas will be wearing the SP Radler brand on their outfits in international matches.

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InterOil PNG Pukpuks team announced for Hong Kong Sevens

The InterOil Pukpuk men's 7’s team are preparing to leave for Hong Kong this afternoon at 3pm for the HSBC Hong Kong 7’s tournament.

The PNG Rugby union has named a 12 member strong team with experienced campaigners Henry Kalau named as Captain with Arthur Clement and Wesley Vali to assist Kalau with 9 debutants taking part in the Hong Kong 7’s for the first time.

“Rugby Union has changed, previously speed and space was needed in the past however from the last Hong Kong 7’s it was all about size and strength, and with the team named this year I am happy that we have the size and we have worked on some little areas in our game and are looking forward to getting our plays together”. Said Pukpuk’s 7’s Captain Henry Kalau.

The Final Team that will participate in the Hong Kong Sevens:

Arthur Clement

Emmanuel Guise

George Morseu

Henry Kalua (C)

Hensley Peter

Karo Kauna

Koroseta Veni

Lawrence Kuso Jnr

Paul Nelson

Tisa Kautu

Wesley Vali

William Tirang

The HSBC Hong Kong 7’s is one of the highlights of the International Rugby calendar and will begin on Friday the 08th of April and end on Sunday the 10th of April, the PNG Interoil Pukpuk’s hope to do well in the tournament in order to qualify for the IRB Sevens series next year. 

PNGFM

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PNG Hunters down Mackay Cutters 34 - 20

The SP PNG Hunters have defeated  Mackay Cutters 34 - 20 at Stadium Mackay a short while ago.

The Cutters were first to score five minutes into the game through Johnny Faletogao'I but with unsuccessful conversion, they took the early lead 4 - 0.  The Hunters replied with a try through Watson Boas after a break by fullback Stargrot Amean who flipped the ball to Boas who  scored under the uprights. Zeming added the extras and the Hunters took over the lead 6 - 4.

The home side replied with  back-to-back tries  to extend the lead to 16 - 6.


The Hunters muscled up and scored through  Enoch Maki who burst through the Cutters defence line to score under the uprights. Zeming  added the extras to reduce the margin to 16 - 12 at half time.

In in the second half, the Hunters were first to score through stand-in halfback Puara that leveled the score at 16 - 16 all.

The Hunters found the Cutters line again through Baikawa on debut to extend the lead to 22 - 16  with successful conversion from Zeming.

Boas scored his second 60 minutes into the game with a runaway try, followed by a successful conversion to put the Hunters in a 12-point lead, 28-16.

The home side muscled up and  scored again through Brenden Treston taking their score up 28-20. The Cutters threw everything on the Hunters both in defence and attack but the Hunters held on.

Wera finally scored for the visitors to sealed the game  34 - 20.

The Hunters will return home to  meet competition leaders Townsville Blackhawks at the National Football stadium at 3:00 pm on Sunday.

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PNG Hunters set for Mackay Cutters

The PNG SP Hunters are set for round 5 Intrust Super Cup match against the Mackay Cutters. They will be looking to re-enter the winner’s circle when they take on the Cutters this Saturday night. The visiting Hunters dropped their first game of the season last weekend against the Falcons who seized the initiative with an impressive opening to their second half on their way to a 28-20 win. The Hunters will welcome back Stargroth Amean at fullback this week and coach Michael Marum has also made positional changes with Wartovo Puara moving to halfback and Adex Wera to centre. Thompson Teteh and Atte Bina have not been named. The PNG side will also have extra motivation to push for victory, having never won in Mackay (they have recorded a loss and a draw). After letting a maiden victory slip through their fingers in Round 3 against Easts, the Cutters were unable to match it with the Bears last Saturday, going down 36-18. However, the side is relatively unchanged from last weekend, with Tone Susuga coming in for Joss Boyton (personal reasons). Despite being named in the back-row, the Cutters will have to do it without Patrick Mago who will miss the next two games after pleading guilty to in a Dangerous Throw.   

The PNG Hunters name their side as; 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Tony (Bland Abavu) 3. Noel Zeming (c) 4. Adex Wera 5. William Aquila 6. Watson Boas 7. Wartovo Puara 8. Henry Noki 9. Warren Glare 10. Esau Siune 11. Nickson Borana 12. Tuvi Lepan 13. Brandy Peter 14. Ishamel Baikawa 15. Enock Maki 16. Philimon Kimisive 17. Edward Goma 18. Benjamin Hetra and Coach: Michael Marum.

MACKAY CUTTERS v PNG HUNTERS 

BB Print Stadium Mackay on Saturday, April 2 – 6.05pm

Referee: Nick Pelgrave

Head-to-Head: PNG 2 Mackay 1 Drawn 1

Twitter: #intrustsupercup #MCvPNG 

Live Stream: QRL Live Stream

Source: qrl.com.au

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Toea Wisil on track for Rio Olympics

PNG’s most celebrated female athlete, Toea Wisil is training hard, focused and on track for the Rio Olympics.

After some personal challenges following her success at the Pacific Games, Wisil is well positioned to achieve big things in this Olympic Games year having set a PNG National record for the 200m in a blistering 23.43 seconds at the ACT State Championships in Canberra in February.

In October last year, she started working with Australian coaches Tony and Alison Fairweather, who have helped with her technique and speed endurance, while also offering personal support to help build a stress free, happy environment.

She is working towards meeting the Olympic qualifying time of 11.32 seconds for the 100 metre event (which would also be a PNG National Record) and isn’t far off after consistently coming in the 11.4 second range in recent events.

“Toea’sdetermination and commitment to continually improving herself and pushing herself ispaying off,” says Alison Fairweather, Toea’s coach.

“She is working really hard in every training session and while there is frustration at times, this is often the case when you are trying to make changes to technique you have used for many years.

“But she is having more and more sessions and races with very positive aspects and is heading in the right direction,” she says.

Toea burst onto the international athletics stage after her efforts at the 2003 PNG Games where she impressed the then president Tony Green with her performance in the 400m sprint.

She has since been crowned Papua New Guinea’s Sports Womanof the Year in the SP Sports Awards in 2010 and 2011, was flag bearer at the 2012 LondonOlympics, as well as one of the ambassadors for thePNG Games in 2014.

Some of her more notable accomplishments have been winning five gold medals at the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia, while just missing out on PNG’s first ever track and field medal by .04 of a second at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

In April 2013 Wisil became the first ever Papua New Guinean to hold an Australian nationaltrack title when she claimed the 100 metres in Sydney. She achieved fantastic results at the Pacific Games 2015 – Gold in the 100m, 200m, 400mand 4x 400m and Silver in the 4x100m.

She is now looking towards the Olympic Games in August and is hoping to extend her ambassador support to a select handful of PNG businesses.

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PNG Hunters go down fighting

RY TIME: Falcons halfback Ryley Jacks goes over for the
first try for the Falcons with PNG’s Gahuna Silas on his heels.
Photo credit: sunshinecoastdaily

The Papua New Guinea Hunters registered first loss of the season after they went down fighting to the Sunshine Coast Falcons 28 - 20 in round 4 of the Intrust Super Cup match yesterday.

The Hunters displayed a  second -half fight back after they were down 22 - 8 with two consecutive tries but the time was not on their hand and the Falcon held on to win  the game.

The loss means, the Hunters slip to third place on the competition ladder.

After 4 rounds, the top 6 stands at:

Townsville Blackhawks (8), Burleigh Bears (6), PNG Hunters (6), CQ Capras (6), Sunshine Coast Falcons (6), Easts Tigers (5).


FALCONS 28 (Tries: 2 Jacks, Hollis, Klein, Seluini. Goals: 2 Stimson, 2 Hansen) def HUNTERS 20 (Tries: W Boas, Olam, Lepan. Goals: 3 Zeming. Penalty goals: Zeming).

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PNG Hunters set for Sunshine Coast Falcons

The PNG Hunters are set for round 4 Intrust Super Cup showdown against the Sunshine Coast Falcons  at the Sunshine Coast Stadium this afternoon. The Falcons are fresh from a rousing victory against the Burleigh Bears last weekend. Down 14-0 early in the match – they fought back to 14-12 before the break and ran away with the match in the second all while putting in a perfect defensive effort to claim a 26-14 win. The Hunters however were pushed all the way in a seesawing match against the always troublesome Tweed Heads. A late try to Atte Bina levelled the scores, while Noel Zeming’s conversion attempt bounced off the post to go over and clinch them a thrilling win. This Sunday, Hunters will be without co-captain Adam Korave who has pleaded guilty to a Careless High Tackle charge and will miss the next two games. Jye Ballinger has been added to last week’s otherwise unchanged line-up for the Falcons. The two sides will compete for the Pacific Allies Cup, with the Falcons the current holder, having won the corresponding match last year. PNG’s 36-10 loss to the Sunshine Coast in that game last year was their second biggest loss in the competition, with their heaviest defeat (60-28) coming at the hands of Tweed Heads.

Hunters Team : 1 Adex Wera, 

2 Bland Abavu, 

3 Noel  Zeming (C),

 4 Thompson Teteh, 

5 Justin Olam, 

6 Atte Bina,

 7 Watson Boas, 

8 Henry Wan, 

9 Wartovo Puara Jr, 

10 Esau Siune, 

11 Nickson Borana, 

12 Warren Glare, 

13 Brandy Peter, 

Reserves 

14 Stargroth Amean, 

15 Tuvi Lepan, 

16 Enock Maki, 

17 Edward Goma, 

18 Gahuna Sailas (one to be omitted).

Coach: Michael Marum

SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS v PNG HUNTERS 

Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, March 27 – 2.05pm

Referee: Nick Morel

Head-to-Head: PNG 3 Sunshine Coast 1

Twitter: #intrustsupercup #SCFvPNG

Watch Live Stream here : QRL Live Stream

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