SP PNG Hunters through to Queensland Intrust Super Cup Grand Final (Post Courier 11/09/17)

BY FIDELIS SUKINA

Hunters celebrating Ase Boas try

The SP PNG Hunters have secured the first grand final spot of the 2017 Queensland Intrust Super Cup Competition after a huge defensive effort defeating the Red Cliff Dolphins 6-4.

It was too good to be true, with some of the Hunters players unable to hold back the emotions, players shedding tears of joy for the historic win.

A mountain of defense was thrown in front of the Dolphins which kept them try with the visitors only converting two penalties in the first half of the game.

Dolphin’s winger Jonus Pearson converting the first penalty in the 15th minute followed through by Hugh Prat converting the second penalty right on half time taking them to a 4-0 lead.


The Hunters scored the only try through captain Ase Boas in the 65th minute, after the teams defense forced two consecutive turnovers which led to an individual effort by Boas to break through two defenders to score the match winner.

The crowd held their own with the Hunters as they defended like their lives depended on it, protecting their two point lead in the last 15 minutes of the match to scrape through for the grand final in Brisbane Suncorp Stadium.

Stargroth Amean was solid in defense, with the Hunters holding their line on the edges, Bland Abavu and Butler Morris both held out the opposition on the right edge, where the Dolphins were looking to expose.

Hunters Karo Kauna Jnr hugging coach Micheal Marum who was all sm

They used their forwards with Prop Matthew Lodge trying his best to break through but the PNG team ganged up on their heavier opponents.

The game presented strong opposition by both teams with some handling errors but it was all physical in the middle as the tackles by the forwards kept the 14,000 plus home crowd on their feet until the final whistle.

Hunters coach Michael Marum commended the team’s defensive effort and their courage not to give up.

“The boys they never gave up and held on to the win the Dolphins came strong but we held out in the end.

We had the wind behind us in the second half so we needed to hold on to the ball told the team at half time to work on the defense which they held on to,” Marum said

The Hunters now await the result of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Redcliff Dolphins match this weekend, which will determine the Hunters grand final opponents.