The PNG Hunters have scored in the final minute to win their first Queensland Cup in a thrilling finish at Suncorp Stadium against the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Trailing 10-6, Hunters’ five-eighth, captain and man-of-the-match Ase Boas put through a grubber as their last throw of the dice. Interchange forward Willie Minoga won a desperate race for the ball, grounding it just before the dead-ball line.
Boas then calmly slotted the conversion from beside the posts to put the Hunters in the lead for the first time in the match.
The Falcons then went for a short kick-off that didn’t work. The hooter sounded seconds later, sparking wild celebrations among the Hunters players and many in the crowd. No doubt the entire population of PNG will be celebrating long and hard for the next few days.
Earlier, the Falcons had a dream start to the match, scoring two tries in the first seven minutes of the first half. The first came in their opening set, when they threw the ball wide to try and exploit the Hunters’ slide defence. It worked, with winger Matt Soper-Lawler crossing in the corner.
The Falcons scored again five minutes later when halfback Ryley Jacks put hard-running backrower Joe Stimson over.
The Hunters managed to steady their defence for the rest of the half, but couldn’t hang onto the ball for long enough to mount any attacking pressure. They went into the sheds trailing 10-0.
They needed to score first in the second half to get some confidence and the Falcons did them a huge favour when they knocked on from the kick-off. In the next set, Ase Boas put in a grubber and his brother Watson Boas ended up scoring from it to get the Hunters on the scoreboard.
Both teams were willing to throw the ball around in very warm September conditions in Brisbane, but were let down by their handling throughout the game. The completion rate of the Hunters, in particular, was poor. They looked very nervous. But the defence from both sides was also very willing. You couldn’t fault their commitment or desperation.
The win means the Hunters will play the winner of the New South Wales Cup in the curtain-raiser to the Melbourne/Cowboys grand final next weekend. Their opponent will be the winner of Penrith and Wyong, played tonight.
It’s the fourth season for the very popular PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup, and this win is their history-making first premiership.
PNG Hunters 12
Sunshine Coast Falcons 10
Gilbert
Guest
If you want a taste of real support, real footy fans, stadiums to come alive and pack to capacity, PNG Hunters will deliver these for you. Please look North and get us in the NRL. Don't keep pushing on the non-league local sites. I am sure we will once again prove our worth against the Penrith on Sunday! #mangipng
Peter
Guest
Samuel, thank you. As I've said over and over, if you don't want scrums, change the rules, don't just ignore them. In this case, and in every other game of league, there should be at least one player on each side, preferably the captain, who has some remote idea of the rules. Tell the captain the rules will be nforced and that there will be no coaching by the referees. Then apply the rules until the players get the message.
Suechi
Guest
It was a scrappy game, but great to see PNG have a win. Why does the NRL persist with trying to establish teams in non-league locations?
Sau
Guest
I think the Panthers will be in for a tough game. My view is that, the pressure is off the PNG boys now that they have won the QCUP and that means that they will play with their usual flair. Agree that the travel time will be a bit draining for them, but they've been doing this for a year now and should be used to it. If anything the Hunters will be playing with more confidence next week. Lets face it, no one really gave them a chance against a Falcons side teeming with players from the Melbourne storm system. Also there is the crowd factor, I bet there will be a monster PNG crowd in Sydney next week..
Johnno
Guest
Congrats to the PNG Hunters, be huge if they beat the panthers and be NRL national championship winners.. What a fairy tale it would be if both he Hunters/Cowboys get up.. Hunters though will have huge odds to beat the Panthers, be a massive upset. They fly back to PNG today arriving about 2pm Port moresby time. They will be tired and emotionally drained and delirious fans, then they have to somehow train tuesday-thursday. I think they fly to sydney friday then GF on sunday. Mission impossible lol. Very weary. That said, they had a week oof before the QLD GF, so might be more fresh than I think. But logistically they should be staying in Brisbane until thursday or friday. If they win next weekend PNG will have an even bigger party than this QLD Cup win. But Panthers should win due to the travel fatigue the Hunters will be battling. Mind you the Crusaders did lots of travel and somehow won at Ellis Park, but the Lions were down to 14 men.. Do the warriors ever play 2 weeks away in NRL, e.g. fly to sydney play then back to auckland, then back to sydney for the match. I hope the Hunters have some petrol for Panthers, they will be tired though I fear while the panthers will have uninterrupted week no travel or delirious local fans. Jackson airport in Port Moresby will be packed come 2pm port Moresby time today. Even if they lose next week, a huge effort to win the QLD cup.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Congrats to PNG, they have been a force since day one and it was only a matter of time before they won the premiership, they should take out Penrith no worries next week and be a real threat in the World Cup (its pretty the same team).
Laurel
Guest
A cracker of a game despite the often poor handling - but it was a very hot day and it must have been nerve-wracking for both teams. Love the 'fairy-tale' ending too.
Star Healey
Guest
Peter , i have never said that games are fixed or referees are crooked, but you would have to admit that the outcome of that game was decided by the actions of a match official awarding a penalty, again i ask why was the penalty given, will we ever know? Again i think i could be forgiven for feeling a bit cynical when a dozen such infringements in the game have passed with no action taken.
Samuel Nobbs
Guest
Yes, madatory 6 men must pack a scrum. Reason they will order them is just the way things are these days. Refs kind of coach the team on the field.
Peter
Guest
Star, yes I have noticed and it's wrong. This does not mean that games are fixed or that referees are crooked or that decisions are made "on a whim."
Dave_S
Guest
Great stuff, this will be an immeasurable benefit to RL in PNG
Jimmmy
Guest
Congrats to the Hunters and all of PNG on a remarkable win. I think both sides suffered finals nerves to a degree and while the ball control left a lot to be desired the defence was intense for the whole match. There were no easy metres out there. Well done to the Falcons too . They had it won till the last minute. Heartbreaking, I thought the Falcons fullback Hughes was the best on ground . Very skilful player. Had a great time at the game , great atmosphere and really looking forward to seeing the Hunters again in Sydney next week.
Dave_S
Guest
Get a life, sheesh!
Tingo Tango
Guest
Shaun, They are going from a 11k crowd to a potentially 80k+ crowd. Yes nerves may have got to them and it was very hot. Thought defensively apart from first 10 minutes they were very good. Wish them all the best next weekend hope they can do it again for them and their country.
Jimmmy
Guest
Agree Nat, The Hogan call was poor . That's one of the worst concussions I've seen. He had to go immediately.
Nat
Roar Guru
Well done PNG. Better ball control would've seen them overcome the Falcons sooner but you cannot fault their defence. The Falcons started like a house-on-fire with their Melbourne boys showing their class but the PNG defensive pressure forced them back into one-out play. The moment of scoring the game winning try was not lost on big Willie Minoga, with tears streaming down the big fellas face. I took two English folks to the game and tried to explain that PNG winning this game is like England winning the World Cup. Just massive.
Nat
Roar Guru
Gifted? PNG were coming like a wave after their first try. Falcons were lucky not be penalised more as they were continuously offside. PNG were their own worst enemies so you're lucky they didn't put more points on. Leaving Hogan out there was a disgrace.
Star Healey
Guest
Wrong guess Peter i have probably seen the Falcons play twice this year, i am more discerning of referees performances and the tremendous power they wield. And why do they referee differently in finals and state of origins?, or haven't you noticed?
Shaun
Guest
Nerves would have been off the charts. None of the PNG boys would have been on a stage that big before. I think they will feel less pressure this weekend and we could see a quality game from them.
TingoTango
Guest
Great result for PNG and RL in general. Probably the worse game I have seen in about 10 years with the lack of ball control really poor. Anyway lets see how they go next week