I’ve always followed the Queensland Cup rugby league – cheap entry, cheap beer, kids on the field at half time, grass hill, memories of childhood, what’s not to love?
I check the scores each week, go to a handful of games each year at Dolphin Oval, and I maintain it is an underrated competition.
The last few seasons my interest has been stoked by the arrival of a new team in the competition – the Papua New Guinea Hunters.
I have a substantial soft spot for the Hunters. In fact you could call me a Hunters groupie, as I have graced most of their southeast Queensland appearances in the past two seasons, including their inaugural Queensland Cup game in 2014 at Dolphin Oval.
Their style of rugby league excites – no offload is impossible, no opportunity for punishing defence is missed, no place on the field is forbidden to start a try from. Most of all, the passion they bring is infectious and addictive, from the warm-up to the final siren.
I’ve dragged a few league fans to Hunters games over the past two seasons, and all have been caught up in it and converted. They seem to be popular everywhere they go, with a Hunters game usually a good chance for a surge in fan numbers at the ground – occasionally they even outnumber home fans.
Of course nowhere are they more popular than in their home country, well known to be the only country where rugby league is the national sport. The only sell-out game of last weekend’s round came in Port Moresby, and the number at the game was only beaten by the Broncos and Cowboys. The previous visit to Port Moresby saw a crowd higher than every NRL game of that round.
For those out of the loop, the Papua New Guinea Hunters entered the Queensland Cup last year, and it is the second appearance of a team from Papua New Guinea in Queensland’s top comp, after the Port Moresby Vipers played in 1996 and 1997.
The Hunters’ first season provided plenty of the qualities that have seen them become one of the top clubs in this year’s competition, but a little bit of inexperience and a bad mid-season run saw them miss the finals by one spot.
It looked like second-season syndrome in 2015 as the Hunters lost three of their first six games, but Round 6 was the last loss for the PNG side, who have now been unbeaten since April – a draw with Redcliffe the only minor hiccup.
This run has included all the style they are loved for, but they have also found that toughness to get home in a number of close games, and †hey are fast becoming the perfect package in the Queensland Cup.
They are now guaranteed a top-two spot and will play Townsville in the first week of the finals (a team they have beaten twice this year).
So it is time to jump on board the Papua New Guinea Hunters bandwagon before the word gets out and Hunters become big time news, and to do so you should get to know a few of the names that people will be talking about soon.
The halves – Israel Eliab and Ase Boas – are top class and wouldn’t look out of place in the NRL.
Fullback Stargroth Amean can sniff out a try from anywhere. A great example of this was last year at Davies Park where a spilled bomb by his winger happened to bounce sideways and into the arms of an already steaming Amean, who went from in-goal to in-goal to score an unbelievable try.
Not quite as flashy, but big and tough are prop Esau Siune, and centre Thompson Teteh. There’s also the underrated goal kicking from the other centre, Noel Zemming, who has got the Hunters out of some close games this season.
You could write a story for all the Hunters, but there’s one man that seems to capture the imagination like no other, Willie Minoga. The man voted fan’s favourite from last year has continued the brand of football that delighted in 2014, and there is always the anticipation of No. 16 coming onto the field for the first time each game. His barnstorming runs and ferocious defence have got the fans excited this year, and he scores tries more often than a replacement forward is usually warranted to do so.
In fear this love-in may be a poisoned chalice for the Hunters, I’ve waited until the top two position was safe to share my thoughts. If this season does end in a grand final appearance at Suncorp Stadium on September 27, any rugby league fan close enough to Brisbane will be doing themselves a disservice by not making the effort to attend.
If the swelling of fans and noise at Hunters away games for the regular season in Brisbane is any indication, this will be the rugby league experience of 2015. Keep the date free and spread the word.
For others, keep an eye for the replays on Fox Sports during the week.
But get on board now, before they are State Champions on NRL grand final day.
Lawrie
Guest
QConners...check out the Qld PNG Rugby League site www.qldpngrugbyleague.com we are a group developing our youngsters and always provide support to the Hunters when they play in Brisbane. Proud to have 2 players in Ipswich Jets previously engaged with us.
Stoney
Guest
Chucked, you sound like a kookaburra, I do not think you have been to Port Moresby, PNG is fast changing and people’s mindsets are also changing. You racist prick need to really go there and see for yourself instead claiming to be there feeding off propagandas on medias. By the way, I would like to state a fact here, when the Hunters hosted Wynumm at POM, all tickets sold out within 6 hours. The tickets where going at K25 (A$12.5) outer stadium and grand stand at K50 ($25). PNG has the buying power, this is because all tickets were sold out and die hard supporters had to buy tickets from those that bought more than 2 tickets for inflated price of K300 (A$150) and above, thousands bought for inflated price. PNGns had to fly in from all over PNG, highlands & Islands. The government had to accommodate the Pacific Islands athletes in world class games village and sporting facilities, imagine if got an NRL team, the government would go beyond to see every criteria is met. PNG is hosting one of the major event in the world, the APEC summit in Port Moresby, it comes to show PNG is a nation on the rise.
russhie
Guest
Jay c your comment in regard to png and hunters would have been correct 4 years back they have now delivered 3 massive stadiums withover 15000 sitting capacity and the crowds on attendance was over whelming...and the tickets ran out for two hunters game in the first 6 hours and were resold to double the price equivalents of AUD$200 for outer stands that even paid for...PNG is surely ready...for NRL.
Maverick1990
Guest
Abavu, Ottio and Korave are Koiari boys...
Big j
Guest
This can only be good for the game and good for PNG, go and watch a game and walk the Track, two for one
Bluebag
Guest
Sydney was the birthplace for the game in Australia and has been it's main citadel since 1909 - the tribalism built up since then is the game's foundation and the fact that it is still the No 1 code in Australia's biggest city cannot be discounted. We can still build on this with expansion and perhaps look to two conferences with ten teams each initially. First team included in that, though, should be the North Sydney Bears who got shafted even worse than my beloved Newtown..
Mikail-Eagle
Guest
The teams has a good mix of players from all over PNG. Papuans: Adam Korave, Kato Ottio, Bland Abavu and Lawrence Tuú Islanders: Isreal Elaib, Ase Boas, Wartovo Puara jnr, Eddie Gomma Highlanders: Stargoth Amean, Thompson Teteh, Adex Wera, Esau Suine, Willie Minoga, Henry Wan, Atte-Bina Wabo Momase: Noel Zemming, Nickson Borana
Rabbits
Guest
Adam Korave, Kato Ottio and Bland Abavu are Papuans. You sure you know what you're talking about Mike form Tari. Or were you refering to West Papuans.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Why base them in NQ, ridiculous, Alotau is the place.
Mike from Tari
Guest
PNG would not be able to field a team full of PNG nationals in the NRL, they are not big enough in the forwards, if you think that some of the Q. Cup sides have big forwards then think again, where you have maybe 3 big forwards in th Q Cup,NyQuil have 6 forwards bigger than them in nearly every NRL team so they would need to recruit some bigger forwards from other countries. The success of the Hunters in the Q Cup is built on fitness, discipline & talent & they are full time players, they are playing against 1 team that probably have full time players & all other teams that have a smattering of full time players from NRL clubs, (those that don't make the final 18 or19 playing NRL on the weekend) & players who work full time during the week & train 3 days a week so I am not surprised that they are right up the top of the ladder.
Mike from Tari
Guest
If you come into the competition with certain conditions, you abide by those conditions, when the Vipers came into the competition all those years ago they left owing a lot of people money.
Mike from Tari
Guest
There's not one Papuan in that team.
Parra
Guest
i'm hoping that Richardson's whole of game review will provide solutions/ answers to all of rugby league's issues? I also feel that the game is going through teething as it changes for the better and this will continue for many years similar to the afl in the 80's the outcome of which will postion the code for great things. People don't realise that afl has a twenty year head start on league in every department and yet the game still manages to compete and outrate afl on TV. This augers well for the future.
Bearfax
Guest
You know I saw a news item on ABC news from parochial Australian Rules people male and female, talking about the success of their game, the fact women's comps will soon be televised and that it is the Australian game. They are thinking expansion big time. If Rugby League is to move forward it must get rid of the turkeys at the top and start expanding not only to other areas but also including women teams, and comps on TV. We need to take the risk with new areas such as the Pacific Island and PNG. Aussie Rules is starting to dominate not only in Victoria, South Australia and West Australia, but its getting a foothold in NSW and Qld and virtually runs sport in Northern Territory. Their P.R. leaves League for dead. They know how to sell their game and they dont limit themselves for fear of failure. They're getting the truly big media bucks and we're getting the left overs. Wake up those who oppose expansion. Expand or die. Get PNG in the NRL. Get regular yearly test comps between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Start encouraging Japan more. If we dont, ether Aussie Rules or Soccer will slip under our naive guard and the game will lose its relevance.
Sean
Guest
Their squad of 18 had nine Hunters when they played Fiji earlier in the year. http://www.rugbyleagueplanet.com/rugby-league-nations/91-rugby-league-test-match-or-international-game/2262-2015-pacific-test-fiji-v-png-and-samoa-v-tonga-teams-dates-ticketing-tv
Parra
Guest
Can you imagine the NRL including teams from Perth to the pacific islands. A truly Australasian competition. This would establish the NRL (change name to ARL, Australasian rugby league) as a sport embraced by culture and diversity including women's competitions etc. this is I believe the future of league.
Parra
Guest
I would grant them a licence as they deserve it. It would add a new dimension to the competition. It's likely to improve crowds wanting to see them play as happening in the Intrust cup. For security reasons the team can be based in North Queensland including admin coaching etc. if this is the case then they can also recruit non png players. I don't see a problem with this scenario?
PNG Bronco fan#88
Guest
Our attitude is poor, we are not poor. Shame on you for assuming that of indexes that white man supposedly come up with just to rape/pillage our golden island paradise. Apologise on behalf of your greedy forefathers!!!
LOCO
Guest
11 players were in the 2013 WC train on squad. Bear in mind that before/after WC ALL Hunters players returned to Digicel Cup competition which is a much lower level than QLD Cup.
LOCO
Guest
Must be Lae. PT Moresby is a different place to 13years ago. The Hunters are in a tightly controlled, professional and disciplined environment. Players are demoted to Digicel Cup league for failing breath tests or turning up late to training or misbehaving on road trips. The coach and trainer are strict disciplinarians. Nothing will happen in Pt Moresby, it is safe. I walked to/from the last Hunters game from my house. As well as the Pacific Games. There was no problem from the crowd or threats to the referee. There was police presence but they were not required. Just thousands of families and kids enjoying a good game. Hundreds regularly travel from PNG to Townsville/Brisbane and elsewhere to watch their beloved Hunters. We have a huge growing middle class with expendable income and PNG is the largest growing economy in the world with a huge mining sector growth, double the growth rate of Australia. My flights cost AUD$500 return POM-BNE-POM only this month, very cheap now that Virgin is flying there as well. Of course, if you are living in 'fortress scared sh*tless' and regurgitating old tales about the bad old days it will affect how you view the world.