The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team believe the bye has come at the right time as they look to rest some sore bodies this weekend.
The Hunters remain inside the Intrust Super Cup top four, despite falling short away to Burleigh Bears last weekend.
The PNG Hunters are in the Intrust Super Cup top four.
Photo: Vanessa Hafner / QRL
The Bears led throughout the match but the Hunters kept them on their feet, at one point reducing the margin by three points with fullback Terry Wapi charging down a kick to score in the 69th minute.
Just when the Hunters looked set to claw past the defending champions, an early kick by Bears five-eighth Tanah Boyd sparked a turnover that led to a 79th minute try to Beau Fermor - the third try for the Gold Coast Titans-contracted player, to win the game 25-18, closing the door on the Hunters hopes of stealing back the Kokoda Cup for the first time since 2017.
The PNG Hunters have relocated to Queensland for the 2021 season.
Photo: Facebook/PNG Hunters
Star winger Brendon Gutuno will see a surgeon today after breaking his arm in the third minute of the Hunters 26-14 victory in Mackay on Saturday night.
The Cutters opened the scoring six minutes later but the Hunters recovered to lead 16-4 at the break and eventually prevailed by five tries to three to chalk up back to back wins.
Coach Matt Church was encouraged with how the Hunters fitness held up in the key moments, despite being a man down for much of the night.
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