PNG & Ipswich entertainers meet in Intrust preliminary final
20 September 2015
QUEENSLAND RUGBY LEAGUE
THE PNG Hunters and Ipswich Jets face off this afternoon for the right to face the Blackhawks in this year’s Intrust Super Cup rugby league grand final.
Townsville continued their impressive debut season when they secured a place in the grand final following a strong 26-12 win over the Hunters last weekend.
Today sees a battle of the entertainers with the trademark contact football style of play from the Jets going head-to-head with the equally exciting Hunters.
While some people question the ability of the Jets to win finals football with their high-risk, high-reward style – they have made it this far.
Last weekend, the Jets ended the premiership run of Easts Tigers in a high-scoring 44-18 victory which featured a record-breaking five-try haul to NRL-bound hooker Matt Parcell.
The PNG Hunters lost for the first time against the Blackhawks last weekend and will be desperate to avenge the loss by winning today and qualifying for the grand final.
After last week’s match, Hunters coach Michael Marum said his side was guilty of making too many errors.
Two changes have been made to his side for this must-win game, with Nickson Borana set to start in the back row and Warren Glare on the bench. Adam Korave and Brandy Peter have been omitted, while David Lapua and Roger Laka have been added to an extended bench.
Skipper Israel Eliab has reportedly caught the interest of NRL clubs and will need to fire this weekend if his side are to progress. Deceptively quick, he requires two tries to equal Garry Lo's PNG season record of 24 last year.
The injury to Enoch Maki was costly for the Hunters. Maki together with Henry Wan and Siune were the three props who provided the go forward. Hunters need more props or heavy forwards to help get them out of their own territory.
Posted by: Bernard Singu Yegiora | 22 September 2015 at 04:42 PM
I was disappointed also watching on TV. Hunters are quite naked on the bench with no real impact players to continue after the two starting props are subbed. The forward play I thought lacked muscles and go-forward after Essau Siune and the other prop were taken out.
The Jets did a good work on us. I am sure they have watched replays of the Hunters previous games and came prepared for this. Our usual individual brilliance were not there. They marked Israel Eliab and all our star players down and starved them off possession.
This is finals football and the Hunters just needed to lift to another level of intensity.
Having said all that, I must remind all the Hunters faithfuls in PNG and Australia, Rome was not built in one day. Hunters will be back in 2016 and will win the ISC.
Posted by: mathias kin | 21 September 2015 at 06:11 PM
Let me be among the first to report back that the SP Hunters have lost the Game today to the Ipswich Jets 8-28.
The Hunters did not play the brand of football they have been known for since joining the Intrust-Super Cup.
They led themselves to the slaughter in the first half, just as they did with the Games against the Mendi Blackhawks.
What a let down by players for the 7 million plus fans, the Sposnors SP, Digicel and the PNG Government through the National Gaming Control Board.
Posted by: John Kaupa Kamasua | 20 September 2015 at 07:10 PM