SP PNG Hunters Buoyed By Backline Strength
SP PNG Hunters hope to begin a mid-season charge with the return of key backline combinations for Saturday’s Intrust Super Cup clash with Mackay Cutters at Bycroft Oval.
Winger Brendon Gotuno is among the returning players, three months after he broke his arm in the opening minutes of the last clash between the Hunters and the Cutters in Mackay.
The Hunters overcame Gotuno’s injury to sizzle through three tries in 14 minutes in one of the best passages of football since they arrived at their Gold Coast base for the 2021 season.
Since then, the Hunters have dealt with an unlucky injury run that has tested their depth away from home. They’re now waiting with other teams to see if the Queensland Government will lift a COVID lockdown at 6pm tomorrow night to enable Round 12 of the competition to proceed.
SP PNG Hunters Focus On Defensive Results - One Papua New Guinea onepng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from onepng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The PNG Hunters have based themselves in Australia for the 2021 season.
Photo: Vanessa Hafner / QRL
The Hunters had opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a try to winger Norman Brown and regained the lead when midfielder Jokadi Bire dotted down in the 27th minute.
But the teams went into half-time tied at 12-all after the Hunters had twice turned over possession in their own half, allowing the Tigers to score their second try just 10 seconds before the halftime.
Hunters centre Brandon Nima and Brisbane prop Sam Lavea were both sent to the sin bin three minutes into the second half before the Tigers scored two tries in three minutes to open up a 24-12 advantage 14 minutes into the second spell.