​THE PNG Hunters had to settle for a close 38-36 loss to the visiting Brisbane Tigers in the round 3 of the Hostplus Cup on Saturday.
The high scoring affair thrilled a vocal crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium with Hunters coach Stanley Tepend admitting that while his side could score points it was the other areas of the game such as discipline and consistency that had let them down.
Fullback Morea Morea Jnr shone for the home side scoring a hattrick of tries and kicking three goals for 16 points while for the Tigers hooker Tristan Hope proved the difference between the two sides scoring 18 points through a try, five conversions and two crucial penalty goals for his match-winning tally.
The Hunters also had to contend with being a man down for 20 minutes of the match after the sin-binnings of back-rower Sherwin Tanabi and five-eighth Sakias Komati on either side of the break for dangerous contact.
The Hunters established themselves strongly in the first 30 minutes of the game when they dominated possession and scored four tries to lead 18-4.

​The SP PNG Hunters today went head-to-head with the Central Queensland CAPRAS in their trial match at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
Visiting CAPRAS opening the point board where able to hold on till the final hooter, defeating the hunters 20-12.
SIKI KONDEN, MOREA MOREA and Benji Kot all had a try each but could not add more against the CAPRAS defending plays.
Hunters Coach Stanley Tepend said the boys had been looking forward to the game and had prepared for this day. 
"Unfortunately the result wasn't what we expect, but the boys will be back in training hoping to open the HostPlus season on a high note" Tepend said.

Santos PNG Orchids coach Ben Jeffries confirms his 20-player PNG Prime Minister’s XIII Women’s squad will face the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII Women in this Sunday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
The match will be played with unlimited interchange and all 20 players are expected to feature. Elsie Albert is unavailable for the match, due to NRLW semi-final commitments with St George Illawarra Dragons, but Orchid number 20, Gloria Kaupa, will captain the side.
Jeffries says this is a valuable opportunity for the Santos PNG Orchids, who have not played a match since November 2019, and recently named a 23-player squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup (RLWC), featuring many new faces.

PNG Kumuls Coach Stanley Tepend is happy that the traditional Prime Minister’s 13 fixture between PNG and Australia is back on the menu.  
The PM’s 13 will be played at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane later this month. 
Coach Tepend says the PM’s 13 has always been an important fixture for PNG, and this year, the match will be used as a lead up to the Rugby League World Cup next month (October). 

HIGHLY-DECORATED Brisbane Broncos winger David Mead has called time on his 14-year rugby league career at the top level, effective immediately.
The now-retired Papua New Guinea Kumul played 171 National Rugby League (NRL) games for Brisbane and Titans, scoring 75 tries since making his debut in 2009.
Mead also played 58 English Super League games for Catalans Dragons, scoring 29 tries.
The 33-year-old also played 15 Tests for PNG and scored 10 tries, as well as captaining his beloved country of birth at the 2017 World Cup.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to the Broncos, Titans, Catalans, NRL and Super league for giving me the opportunity to live my dream since 2009,” Mead said.
“This game has given and taught me a lot.
“I will always be grateful for my time playing footy.

BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) is now the naming rights sponsor of the home of the Sepik Pride Rugby League Football Club (SPRLFC), the Pora Oval, in Wewak, East Sepik Province.

BSP becomes the first to acquire naming rights to the Rugby League Oval that accommodates the local league competition and talents.

The bank’s support to Pora Oval facilities will see improved and maintained grandstand, fencing and general maintenance of the sporting ground.

Papua New Guinea’s national oil and gas Company, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited, today announced sponsorship funding of K10 million for the PNG Rugby Union (PNGRU) for next three (3) years from 2022 through to 2024.
This sponsorship provides Kumul Petroleum with the naming rights for all PNGRU sanctioned events and competitions over this period and includes branding of tournament uniforms, on-field signage, ticketing and other related documentation.
Mr Wapu Sonk, Managing Director of Kumul Petroleum said: “We are pleased to announce financial support for this sporting code, which for many years has suffered and declining because of various reasons and the key ones being lack of sponsorship, infighting between different people at the PNGRU Board, regional centers and or provincial union affiliates etc . 

Congratulations are in order for Kroton Hela Hela Wigmen players, management, sponsors and everyone behind success story of the club. Hela Wigmen so far have been to 3 grand finals and won 2 and always in the finals since we entered in 2014.
The club has groomed disciplined and quality players for Hunters and Kumuls and will continue to do so. 
Wigmen franchise purposely recruits players from other provinces. We use the Wigmen brand to extend friendship and relationship with other provinces. Thats why, everytime Wigmen play, you'll see not just Hela people support them. We are proud to be called a true unifying team flying the Hela flag. I encourage everyone to come support this Sunday at the National Football Stadium. 

​Rabbitohs NRL squad for round 23 against Panthers this Friday
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their NRL squad for round 23 against the Penrith Panthers
to be played this Friday 20 August at 8:05pm at Suncorp Stadium.
Rabbitohs Head Coach Wayne Bennett has named Alex Johnston, Dane Gagai, Campbell Graham and Hame
Sele all to return from injury this week.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NRL squad for Friday’s clash with the Panthers is:

​SP PNG Hunters have been strengthened by the return of key backs Terry Wapi and Brendon Gutuno for Saturday’s Intrust Super Cup clash with Mackay Cutters at Bycroft Oval on Saturday.

The Queensland Rugby League declared that the Round 12 clash would go ahead despite today’s announcement of a three-day COVID lockdown in southeast Queensland and the Townsville region. The QRL hopes the lockdown will lift as planned at 6pm Friday, enabling a full round to proceed after last weekend’s bye.

Winger Gutuno has been sidelined for the past 12 weeks after fracturing his arm in two places in the 26-14 Round 3 victory against the Cutters in Mackay while fullback Wapi has played only one match since Round 6 because of an ankle injury.

However, the Hunters will be without second-rower Keven Appo who discovered he had a leg infection after his ankle swelled up in the days after suffering an injury against Burleigh Bears at Cbus Super Stadium last round.