The Papua New Guinea Hunters have recorded a miraculous victory in the Queensland Cup Grand Final with a 79th minute try to Willie Minoga and conversion giving them a 12-10 win.
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Final score
Papua New Guinea Hunters 12
Sunshine Coast 10
The Papua New Guinea Hunters will be the sentimental favourites when they take on the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the grand final of the Queensland Cup at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for a live blog of the game from 3:25pm (AEST).
The Hunters are attempting to make history by winning their first premiership in just their fourth season in the competition. They were the minor premiers, losing only four matches all season, but surprisingly aren’t the favourites with the bookmakers.
The Falcons finished fourth in the regular season but are affiliated with the Melbourne Storm. Their grand final team includes halfback Ryley Jacks, backrower Joe Stimson and hooker Brandon Smith, who have all played at NRL level this season.
Ironically, it also includes the PNG Kumuls’ Test centre Justin Olam, who is also contracted to the Storm.
The Hunters won their way their way through to the grand final with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Redcliffe in the major semi-final at home in PNG two weeks ago.
That win was on the back of having a week off after winning the minor premiership, so they should be fresh with the grand final being only their second game in the last four weeks.
Coached by Michael Marum and led by skipper and goal-kicking five-eighth Ase Boas, the Hunters will also supply plenty of players for the PNG Kumuls team for the World Cup starting late next month.
Boas has already won the competition’s best and fairest medal this season, as well as the “People’s Choice” award as a fan favourite. Marum was also named as the coach of the year.
The Falcons are coached by Craig Ingebrigtsen and will be looking to add to the one and only Queensland Cup premiership that they won back in 2009. Back then, the club was affiliated with Manly and their premiership team featured Trent Hodkinson, Tony Williams and George Rose.
They have won three semi-finals to earn their grand final spot, beating Souths Logan, Easts and Redcliffe in the six-team finals format.
The winner of this match will face the winner of the New South Wales Cup grand final – Penrith or Wyong – in a curtain-raiser on NRL grand final day.
Prediction: Hunters by 8.
Rabbits
Guest
That's true Rellum. The Hunters are more meat and potatoes than champagne football but crikey they can compete. They dragged the Falcons into trench warfare and kept it close all the way until just before the final hooter.It wasn't planned I'm sure. How's that for ad lib/Hail Mary play?
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have watched them a few times over the years and I have never seem this amazing football everyone says they play. There game is very much about power and strength and showing that power. They do make different choices in attack at times but I don't remember seeing much ad lib, globetrotter style attack. You need to look Ipswich's way to see some of that.
Simoc
Guest
Loved that game. Hunters always looked likely but didn't actually do until end time and then a bit fluky. Why couldn't they throw it wide on numerous occasions. Probably lots of nerves involved on both sides. Tough for the Falcons who thumped my Redcliffe the week before. But probably in hindsight they will see the opportunities they had.
Lynne Mutten
Guest
Congrats PNG Hunters & nice game Falcons you all have made it to the finals.
Nambawan
Guest
Tru tumas. Nex wik MEKIM SAVE!!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I was actually referring to both sides there with that combination of reasons, as the completion rates of both teams was poor. The Falcons wouldn't be used to playing regularly in weather conditions like we had in Brisbane yesterday.
Shaun
Guest
Not sure the heat would have been a factor considering they usually play in 35 degree weather.
Bfc
Guest
Mipela hamamas tru...!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on this afternoon's coverage, hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to leave your thoughts on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Yea, probably a combination of the heat, nerves, and some willing defence contributed to the bad completion rates.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Sure was, he must have been gutted.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report PNG Hunters 12 Sunshine Coast Falcons 10 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.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Classy speech from the Falcons captain
Rellum
Roar Guru
Congrats to the Hunters. Not sure about that last penalty but someone had to try and win it eventually. Both teams were doing their best to loose it for long periods.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I don't know how they did it and I'd hate to see their completion rate, but the Hunters have done it!! They only hit the front for the first time in the game with 30 seconds to go, but that's all that matters.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yesss!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full time The hooter sounds and its victory for the PNG Hunters!! PNG Hunters 12 Sunshine Coast Falcons 10
Zedman
Roar Rookie
Falcons should have kept Geraghty on the bench.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
He's kicked it, the Hunters are in front 12-10 with 30 seconds to go!
John Coomer
Roar Guru
79' Boas now has the chance to convert the try and win the game for the Hunters, after putting a grubber through for interchange player Willie Minoga to score! Delay before the kick due to a Falcons player currently being down injured. PNG Hunters 10 Sunshine Coast Falcons 10