The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby team are being urged to lift their game after a horror start to this year's Intrust Super Cup campaign. The Port Moresby club host the high-flying Wynnum-Manly Seagulls on Sunday, having managed just one win from nine games in 2019. Doubles to Troy Leo and Jamal Fogarty helped lift the Burleigh Bears to a 56-4 win over the PNG Hunters at Pizzey Park. In front of a massive Anzac Day crowd, the Bears put on a show, crossing for ten tries. Leo’s double takes him to seven tries for the season, while Fogarty’s double, along with eight conversions, took his personal tally to 24 points. It was a celebratory day for the Bears, with coach Jimmy Lenihan bringing up his 200th game in charge of the club in style. The Papua New Guinea women's sevens team have reached the quarterfinals of the world series qualifier in Hong Kong. The Palais started pool play with a 22-14 win over Hong Kong. Fatima Rama opened the scoring with a try for the Palais in the 2nd minute before Taiva Lavai, Joana Lagona and Mavis Biyama crossed the line at two minute intervals. As the SP PNG Hunters prepare to face the Sunshine Coast Falcons at home turf tomorrow (Sunday 24 of March), NCD Governor Powes Parkop paid a much-needed visit to their camp in the city on Thursday evening. Mr Parkop was in their camp to have fellowship with them and give them morale support through words of encouragement after they suffered two consecutive losses in the Intrust Super Cup championships. He complemented his speech with a K20, 000 cash incentive as match wages for the players and the team management. Of this, K1000 each is up for grab amongst the players on someone who scores the opening and the winning tries. PNG Hunters team has named Adex Wera as its skipper for 2019. Wera was surprised on receiving the news from coach Michael Marum before the official announcement was made at the Hunters 2019 season launching at Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Friday. The SP PNG Hunters are into rebuilding stages, says coach Michael Marum yesterday. “We are rebuilding the side this season and we are working really hard to make sure they (players) go out and compete in each game,” said Marum. He said they are not looking too far ahead at the points table or the finals. According to the Queensland Intrust Super Cup 2019 gains and loss stats, Hunters recruited a bulk of a new playing group from the Digicel Cup and PNG Rugby Football League confederates to boost their campaign. The Hunters final squad named this week are: Papua New Guinea are confident of advancing to the OFC Women's Nations Cup football final. The Lakatois have finished runners up to New Zealand at the past three regional championships. PNG take on Fiji in the first semi final today in Mare after convincing victories against Samoa, New Caledonia and Tahiti in Kone gave them a perfect record in Group A. PNG coach Peter Gunemba said they had proven themselves against tough opposition. "I think our pool was the toughest pool because I have seen a lot of improvement from especially Samoa," he said. By Seagulls Media BMD Wynnum Manly Seagulls are pleased to announce the signing of Papua New Guinea internationals Rahdly Brawa and Edene Gebbie. Both players have recently been involved in tests for the Kumuls side against the England Knights and the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII. Brawa (27-years-old) is a highly respected member of the PNG Hunters side and was named the club’s Players’ Player of the Year at their 2018 awards night. FORMER Kumuls and SP PNG Hunters fullback Stargroth Amean and hooker Wartovo Puara Jr have signed on with English club Barrow Raiders for next season. Raiders director of rugby league Andy Gaffney said he could not wait to see Amean and Puara Jr in action for the English second division club after the pair agreed to join the club for the 2019 Betfred Championship season. The pair move to Craven Park with plenty of experience of playing in Australia’s Queensland Cup – one level below the NRL – for the Hunters, along with representing their country at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Edene Gabbie and Dan Russell have been named in the PNG Prime Ministers X111 starting line- up for this weekend’s Prime Ministers X111 International fixture against Australia at the Oil Search National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. Gabbie and Russell will wear the national colours for the first time as wingers. Pacific Test in July during Mead’s absence, as vice- captain. |
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