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: 3; Draws: 1; Losses: 4
Points scoredFor: 174; Against: 242
Team information
CEOScott Barker
CoachStanley Tepend[1]
Captain
  • Ila Alu
StadiumPNG Football Stadium
Top scorers
Tries7 (Nima)
Goals9 (Jamie Mavoko)
Points34 (Morea Morea)
< 2022 2024 >

Train and trial partnership with Dolphins (NRL)

The PNG Hunters strategic partnership with Dolphins (NRL) saw three Hunters players Sherwin Tanabi, Rodrick Tai and Judah Rimbu trained with the Dolphins (NRL) side during NRL pre-season in January,2023. Rodrick Tai was recalled together with Morea Morea Jnr on April 23 to be part of the Dolphins for a month to train after their impressive form. [2][3][4][5]

Season summary
  • Round 1:

Milestone games
RoundPlayerMilestone
Round 1Morea Morea(#112), Siki Konden(#113), Samson 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

2023 squad
PNG Hunters
First team squad Coaching staff
  • Judah Rimbu – HB, HK, SO
  • Tom Moide – PR
  • Henry Noki – PR
  • Koso Badi – PR, SR
  • Siki Konden – WG
  • Junior Igila – CE
  • Joshua Mire – HB, SO
  • Sanny Wabo – FB
  • Trevor Solu – HK
  • Dua Tapako – SR
  • Ishmael Waine – SR
  • David Joseph – SO
  • Seal Kalo – SR
  • Mathew Jesse – WG, FB
  • Jimmy Gissua – PR
  • Kafu Ken – CE

Head coach

Assistant coach

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

Updated: 03 February 2023
Source(s): [6]

Squad movement

Gains
Player Signed From Until End of Notes
Epel KapiniasWynnum Manly Seagulls
2023
[7]

Losses
Player Signed To Until End of Notes
Keven AppoBradford Bulls
2023
[8]
Sylvester NamoNorth Queensland Cowboys
2023
[9]
Kitron LakaWynnum Manly Seagulls
2023
[10]
Kingstimer ParaiaSouths Logan Magpies
2023
[11]
Samuel YegipCentral Queensland Capras
2023
[12]
Emmanuel WaineLondon Broncos
2023
[13]
Wartovo PuaraSepik Pride
2023
[14]
Liam JosephRabaul Gurias
2023
[15]
Dilbert IsaacRedcliffe Dolphins
2023
[16]
Gilmo PaulPort Moresby Vipers
2023
[17]

Ladder
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Burleigh Bears 8 7 0 1 1 214 138 76 16
2 Souths Logan Magpies 8 5 2 1 1 228 122 106 14
3 Sunshine Coast Falcons 7 4 2 0 2 232 132 100 14
4 Central Queensland Capras 8 6 0 2 1 203 142 61 14
5 Brisbane Tigers 9 6 1 2 0 256 176 80 13
6 Tweed Heads Seagulls 8 5 0 3 1 228 175 53 12
7 Redcliffe Dolphins 8 5 0 3 1 188 198 -10 12
8 Northern Pride RLFC 8 5 0 3 1 123 180 -57 12
9 Wynnum Manly Seagulls 8 4 0 4 1 226 182 44 10
10 Papua New Guinea Hunters 8 3 1 4 1 174 242 -68 9
11 Townsville Blackhawks 8 3 0 5 1 186 181 5 8
12 Norths Devils 9 2 2 5 0 222 218 4 6
13 Western Clydesdales 8 2 0 6 1 210 238 -28 6
14 Ipswich Jets 8 0 0 8 1 134 358 -224 2
15 Mackay Cutters 9 0 0 9 0 126 268 -142 0
  • 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[18]
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 goals
Saturday, 18 MarchRound 2 Souths Logan MagpiesLogan Metro Sports Park22-22Komati 2, Tai, Kot, MoreaMorea goal
Saturday, 25 MarchRound 3 Brisbane TigersPNG Football Stadium36-38Morea 3, Wane, Nima, Alu, YakopaMorea 3, Komati goals
Saturday, 8 AprilRound 4BYE-
Saturday, 15 AprilRound 5 Northern PrideBarlow Park14-34Tai, Komati, NimaSolu goal
Saturday, 22 AprilRound 6 Burleigh BearsPizzey Park20-46Rop, Kapinias, Nima, KomatiMorea, Solu goals
Saturday, 29 AprilRound 7 Mackay CuttersPNG Football Stadium18-10Morea, Kot, Yakopa, TaiMavoko goal
Saturday, 6 MayRound 8 Ipswich JetsPNG Football Stadium40-28Nima 2, Morea, Tenza, Moide, Komati, RopMavoko 6 goals
Friday, 12 MayRound 9 Townsville BlackhawksJack Manski Oval4-54Solo Wane
Saturday, 20 MayRound 10 Wynnum Manly SeagullsBMD Kougari Oval-
Saturday,27 MayRound 11 Northern PridePNG Football Stadium-
Saturday, 3 JuneRound 12 Tweed Heads SeagullsPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 10 JuneRound 13 Western ClydesdalesPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 17 JuneRound 14 Souths Logan MagpiesPNG Football Stadium
Sunday, 25 JuneRound 15 Sunshine Coast FalconsSunshine Coast Stadium
Saturday, 1 JulyRound 16 CQ CaprasPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 8 JulyRound 17 Burleigh BearsPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 15 JulyRound 18BYE
Saturday, 22 JulyRound 19 Brisbane TigersTotally Workwear Stadium
Saturday, 5 AugustRound 20 Redcliffe DolphinsPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 12 AugustRound 21 Townsville BlackhawksPNG Football Stadium
Saturday, 19 AugustRound 22 Norths DevilsBishop Park[19]
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw   Bye

Statistics
* Denotes player on loan from the Central Queensland Capras.
NameAppTGFGPts
Ila Alu81--4
Koso Badi50--0
Junior Igila10--0
Mathew Jesse10--0
David Joseph00--0
Seal Kalo10--0
Epel Kapinias81--4
Sakias Komati761-26
Siki Konden20--0
Benji Kot63--12
Jamie Mavoko709-18
Joshua Mire30--0
Tom Moide71--4
Morea Morea865-34
Brandon Nima87--28
Valentine Richard20--0
Judah Rimbu60--0
Junior Rop82--8
Trevor Solu202-4
Rodrick Tai73--12
Sherwin Tanabi60--0
Dou Tapako00--0
Wesser Tenza81--4
Sanny Wabo10--0
Henry Wan60--0
Solo Wane82--8
Julius Yakopa72--8
Totals35170174

References
  1. "New Cup coaches of 2023: Tepend at Hunters". Queensland Rugby League. 8 February 2023.
  2. "Hunters announce strategic pathways partnership with Dolphins". 19 May 2022.
  3. Pannifex<, Oscar. "From Hunters to Dolphins: A New Era in PNG Rugby League". pnghunters.com. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. "Hunters clarify 'Phins deal – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
  5. https://www.pnghunters.com/2023/04/25/hunters-invited-to-train-with-the-dolphins-nrl-squad/
  6. "Hunters Confirm head coach and training Squad for 2023". www.pnghunters.com. 25 November 2022.
  7. "Wynnum get Laka, re-sign Talita and release Kapinias – The National". www.thenational.com.pg.
  8. "Bradford Bulls - Rugby League Championship". www.bradfordbulls.co.uk.
  9. Pryde, Scott (21 November 2022). "Cowboys set to provide Kumuls forward with NRL opportunity". Zero Tackle.
  10. "Kitron Laka Becomes a Seagull in 2023 - Wynnum Manly Seagulls". 17 November 2022.
  11. "PNG Hunters: Cup gains and losses 2023". Queensland Rugby League. 9 March 2023.
  12. "Enforcer Samuel Yegip finds new home with Central Queensland Capras". postcourier.com.pg.
  13. Media, Broncos (1 February 2023). "Broncos add explosive Papua New Guinea international Waine to 2023 squad".
  14. Sports, Loop (16 February 2023). "Sepik Pride sign on Puara and Boas". Loop PNG.
  15. https://www.thenational.com.pg/pride-recruit-two-more-hunters-for-inaugural-season/
  16. https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2022/12/02/brightons-kumuls-recruit-fuels-lofty-club-wide-goals/
  17. https://postcourier.com.pg/paul-given-life-wigmen-confirm-suspension//
  18. "Hunters Overcome Silktails In First Melanesian Bowl – Kaiviti Silktails".
  19. "Hostplus Cup and BMD Premiership draws released". Queensland Rugby League. 23 December 2022.
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