2023 Papua New Guinea Hunters season

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.

2023 Papua New Guinea Hunters season
Queensland Cup Rank10
2023 recordWins: 9; draws: 1; losses: 10
Points scoredFor: 464; against: 514
Team information
CEOScott Barker
CoachStanley Tepend[1]
Captain
  • Ila Alu
StadiumPNG Football Stadium
Top scorers
Tries11 (Morea Morea)
Goals37 (Jamie Mavoko)
Points86 (Jamie Mavoko)
< 2022 2024 >

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
  • Round 1:

Milestone games
RoundPlayerMilestone
Round 1Morea Morea(#112), Siki Konden(#113), Sakias Komati(#114), Tom Moide(#115), Joshua Mire(#116), Valentine Richard(#117)Hostplus Cup debuts
Round 1Samson Komatiscored his first try
Round 2Morea Moreascored his first Hunters try
Round 3Sanny Wabo(#118)Hostplus Cup debut
Round 5Junior Igila(#119), Trevor Solu(#120), Koso Badi(#121)Hostplus Cup debuts
Round 8Tom Moidescored his first Hostplus Cup try
Round 8Seal Kalo (Hunters #122)Hostplus Cup debut
Round 10Sanny Waboscored his first Hostplus Cup try
Round 11Jamie Mavokoscored his first Hostplus Cup try
Round 12Junior Igilascored his first Hostplus Cup try
Round 13Joshua Lau (Hunters #123)scored his first try on his Debut
Round 14Joshua Mirescored his first try at Hostplus cup level
Round 15Trevor Soluscored his first try at Hostplus cup level
Round 16Whallen Tau-Loi (PNG Hunters #124)Hostplus Cup debut
Round 20Whallen Tau-LoiFirst Hostplus Cup try
Round 22Siki KondenFirst Hostplus Cup try

2023 squad
PNG Hunters
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Warren Glare – HK
  • Seal Kalo – PR
  • Casey Dickson – PR
  • Valentine Richard – PR (On Loan)
  • Tom Moide – LK, PR
  • Sanny Wabo – FB
  • Sakias Komati – SO
  • Henry Wan – PR
  • Junior Igila – CE
  • Trevor Solu – HK
  • Philemon Kimisive – SR
  • Joshua Mire – SO, HB
  • Sherwin Tanabi – SR

Head coach

Assistant coach

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

Updated: 03 February 2023
Source(s): [8]

Squad movement

Gains
Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Epel KapiniasWynnum Manly Seagulls
2023
[9]

Losses
Player Signed To Until End of Notes
Keven AppoBradford Bulls
2023
[10]
Sylvester NamoNorth Queensland Cowboys
2023
[11]
Kitron LakaWynnum Manly Seagulls
2023
[12]
Kingstimer ParaiaSouths Logan Magpies
2023
[13]
Samuel YegipCentral Queensland Capras
2023
[14]
Emmanuel WaineLondon Broncos
2023
[15]
Wartovo PuaraSepik Pride
2023
[16]
Liam JosephRabaul Gurias
2023
[17]
Dilbert IsaacRedcliffe Dolphins
2023
[18]
Gilmo PaulPort Moresby Vipers
2023
[19]

Ladder
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Burleigh Bears 20 15 1 4 2 547 376 171 35
2 Souths Logan Magpies 20 14 2 4 2 588 392 196 34
3 Brisbane Tigers 20 14 1 5 2 573 432 141 33
4 Central Queensland Capras 20 12 2 6 2 511 387 124 30
5 Redcliffe Dolphins 20 11 3 6 2 564 443 121 29
6 Wynnum Manly Seagulls 20 12 0 8 2 610 498 112 28
7 Northern Pride RLFC 20 11 2 7 2 363 442 -79 28
8 Sunshine Coast Falcons 20 11 1 8 2 525 408 117 27
9 Tweed Heads Seagulls 20 11 0 9 2 614 478 136 26
10 Papua New Guinea Hunters 20 9 1 10 2 464 514 -50 23
11 Norths Devils 20 8 2 10 2 551 530 21 22
12 Townsville Blackhawks 20 8 1 11 2 480 455 25 21
13 Western Clydesdales 20 3 0 17 2 452 684 -232 10
14 Mackay Cutters 20 3 0 16 2 332 606 -274 10
15 Ipswich Jets 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 FebruaryTrial 1 CQ CaprasPNG Football Stadium12-20Konden,Morea,Kot
Saturday 4 MarchTrial 2 Kaiviti SilktailsLawaqa Park, Sigatoka, Fiji26-12Rop 3, Konden, Nima[20]
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Tries Goals Attendance
Sunday, 12 MarchRound 1 Western ClydesdalesClive Berghofer Stadium20-10Nima 2, Komati, KotMavoko 2/4 goals
Saturday, 18 MarchRound 2 Souths Logan MagpiesLogan Metro Sports Park22-22Komati 2, Tai, Kot, MoreaMorea 1/5 goal
Saturday, 25 MarchRound 3 Brisbane TigersPNG Football Stadium36-38Morea 3, Wane, Nima, Alu, YakopaMorea 3/6, Komati 1/1 goals
Saturday, 8 AprilRound 4BYE-
Saturday, 15 AprilRound 5 Northern PrideBarlow Park14-34Tai, Komati, NimaSolu 1/3 goal
Saturday, 22 AprilRound 6 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park20-46Rop, Kapinias, Nima, KomatiMorea 1/2, Solu 1/2 goals
Saturday, 29 AprilRound 7 Mackay CuttersPNG Football Stadium18-10Morea, Kot, Yakopa, TaiMavoko 1/4
Saturday, 6 MayRound 8 Ipswich JetsPNG Football Stadium40-28Nima 2, Morea, Tenza, Moide, Komati, RopMavoko 6/7
Friday, 12 MayRound 9 Townsville BlackhawksJack Manski Oval4-54WaneMavoko 0/1
Saturday, 20 MayRound 10 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval24-28Tai 2, Wabo 2, JesseMavoko 2/5
Saturday,27 MayRound 11 Northern PridePNG Football Stadium16-22Yakopa, Mavoko, TenzaMavoko 2/3
Saturday, 3 JuneRound 12 Tweed Heads SeagullsPNG Football Stadium34-18Moide, Igila, Morea, Tai, Wane, RopMavoko 5/6
Saturday, 10 JuneRound 13 Western ClydesdalesPNG Football Stadium40-4Moide, Nima, Lau, Kimisive, Wabo, Morea, TaiSolu 5/6, Morea 1/1
Saturday, 17 JuneRound 14 Souths Logan MagpiesPNG Football Stadium10-40Kot, MireSolu 1/1, Mavoko 0/1
Sunday, 25 JuneRound 15 Sunshine Coast FalconsSunshine Coast Stadium34-10Solu 2, Morea, Moide, Yakopa, WaneMavoko 4/5, Solu 1/1
Saturday, 1 JulyRound 16 CQ CaprasPNG Football Stadium14-8Rimbu, Wabo, KotMavoko 1/2 Solu 0/1
Saturday, 8 JulyRound 17 Burleigh BearsPNG Football Stadium22-30Nima, Kot, Morea, WaneMorea (2/4 + 1 pen.)
Saturday, 15 JulyRound 18BYE
Sunday, 30 JulyRound 19 Brisbane TigersTotally Workwear Stadium18-32Tai, Wane, KotMavoko 3/3
Saturday, 5 AugustRound 20 Redcliffe DolphinsPNG Football Stadium26-22Wane 2, Tau-Loi, Lau, KotMavoko (2/5 + 1 pen.)
Saturday, 12 AugustRound 21 Townsville BlackhawksPNG Football Stadium22-18Morea, Lau, Tau-Loi, MavokoMavoko 3/4
Saturday, 19 AugustRound 22 Norths DevilsBishop Park30-40Rop, Mavoko, Komati, Rimbu, KondenMavoko (4/5 + 1 pen.)[21]
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Statistics
* Denotes player on loan from the Central Queensland Capras.
NameAppTGFGPts
Ila Alu181--4
Koso Badi70--0
Casey Dickson70--0
Warren Glare40--0
Junior Igila71--4
Mathew Jesse21--4
Seal Kalo100--0
Epel Kapinias201--4
Philemon Kimisive21--4
Sakias Komati1371-30
Siki Konden61--4
Benji Kot168--32
Joshua Lau53--12
Jamie Mavoko18337-86
Joshua Mire61--4
Tom Moide164--16
Morea Morea20119-62
Brandon Nima199--36
Valentine Richard40--0
Judah Rimbu182--8
Junior Rop184--16
Trevor Solu828-24
Rodrick Tai198--32
Sherwin Tanabi70--0
Whallen Tau-Loi52--8
Wesser Tenza112--8
Sanny Wabo84--16
Henry Wan120--0
Solo Wane208--32
Julius Yakopa114--16
Totals88560464

Representatives

The following players played representative matches in 2023.

PNG Prime Minister's XIII2023 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
  1. "New Cup coaches of 2023: Tepend at Hunters". Queensland Rugby League. 8 February 2023.
  2. "Broncos add explosive Papua New Guinea international Waine to 2023 squad". London Broncos RL. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. "Tai's NRL dream likely – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. "Hunters announce strategic pathways partnership with Dolphins". 19 May 2022.
  5. Pannifex<, Oscar. "From Hunters to Dolphins: A New Era in PNG Rugby League". pnghunters.com. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. "Hunters clarify 'Phins deal – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
  7. Pannifex, Oscar (25 April 2023). "Hunters invited to train with The Dolphins NRL squad - SP PNG Hunters". Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  8. "Hunters Confirm head coach and training Squad for 2023". www.pnghunters.com. 25 November 2022.
  9. "Wynnum get Laka, re-sign Talita and release Kapinias – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
  10. "Bradford Bulls - Rugby League Championship". www.bradfordbulls.co.uk.
  11. Pryde, Scott (21 November 2022). "Cowboys set to provide Kumuls forward with NRL opportunity". Zero Tackle.
  12. "Kitron Laka Becomes a Seagull in 2023 - Wynnum Manly Seagulls". 17 November 2022.
  13. "PNG Hunters: Cup gains and losses 2023". Queensland Rugby League. 9 March 2023.
  14. "Enforcer Samuel Yegip finds new home with Central Queensland Capras". postcourier.com.pg.
  15. Media, Broncos (1 February 2023). "Broncos add explosive Papua New Guinea international Waine to 2023 squad".
  16. Sports, Loop (16 February 2023). "Sepik Pride sign on Puara and Boas". Loop PNG.
  17. "Pride recruit two more Hunters for inaugural season – The National". www.thenational.com.pg. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  18. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/12/02/brightons-kumuls-recruit-fuels-lofty-club-wide-goals/
  19. Nangoi, Donald (12 April 2023). "Paul given life, Wigmen confirm suspension". Post Courier. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  20. "Hunters Overcome Silktails In First Melanesian Bowl – Kaiviti Silktails".
  21. "Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership draws released". Queensland Rugby League. 23 December 2022.
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