PNG Hunters 2020 Draw + Results + Season Details

A new season for one of our favourite sporting teams in the world – the PNG Hunters is kicking off soon, so for the Hunters or rugby league enthusiasts in general here is the PNG Hunters 2020 Draw, Squad news and more.

We also take a look at the keys parts of the PNG Hunters 2020 Draw with some quick analysis.

Throughout the season we’ll have weekly PNG Hunters updates, and the mini match summaries will also be available on this page.

Here’s all you need to know so far for the PNG Hunters 2020 Draw + Season.

FULL PNG HUNTERS 2020 DRAW

Here is a quick guide to all of the PNG Hunters games in 2020. For some analysis of the PNG Hunters 2020 draw keep reading.

PNG HUNTERS 2020 DRAW FOR SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

For those like us who will never be able to get to Port Moresby to watch a game live, and live in the state’s south east corner, we offer up the PNG Hunters 2020 draw which is just for their games in the SEQ. Why not spoil yourself by going to one or two.

PNG HUNTERS 2020 SEASON RESULTS

As the 2020 Intrust Super Cup season goes one, we will add a little summary of each game here. Stay tuned.

R1 – Souths Logan Magpies 30 PNG HUNTERS 32

Full Match Report from Matt Crowhurst here

The PNG Hunters overcame a 30-6 deficit with half an hour to play, to stun the home side and continue their 100% at Davies Park.

Even down by 24 points, there were still plenty of positives – the penalty count and error rate of previous seasons was lower, and there was a distinct hint of a little more flair in attack. 

But the addition of back up hooker Stanley Olo really transformed the Hunters, his pace and skill from dummy half really troubled Souths Logan, where through quick play the balls the Hunters either found space or drew some penalties out of the Magpies. 

Fullback Terry Wapi did what great fullbacks do, and was on hand to take full advantage of Olo’s skills, and the left side attack really fired in the second half – Junior Rau and Joe Joshua superb.

Special mention to Enock Maki who trucked the ball up all day, and usually dragged a trio of Magpie defenders and more. And right side centre Brandon Nima was particularly impressive in his work rate, seemingly up for a forward saving hit up every set. And they were all great powerful runs.

The most impressive aspect of the win was the tenacity of the Hunters to hold on when the game looked gone. Yes they eventually won because of superior goal kicking, but without the belief to stay in the match and then power on it could have been a 2019 style flogging. Worth noting that the Hunters could have won the game earlier with a few great try chances going begging, and the Magpies could have won with a relatively easy field goal in front that was skewed wide under great Hunters pressure.

It wasn’t only the result that matters, the way the Hunters powered on shows that Matt Church and his team could be in for a very competitive season.

FINAL SCORE:

PNG HUNTERS 2020 DRAW ANALYSIS

Looking at the draw, there are a few key moments in the upcoming 2020 Intrust Super Season. The first seven rounds looks really tough, with three of the top four from last season visiting the Hunters in Port Moresby, as well as a trip to Langlands Park to play the Tigers, a side they haven’t beaten in four attempts in Brisbane.

The Hunters play the last top four side in Round 7 when they travel to the Sunshine Coast, where they have only won once, and that was in 2014 by one point when the Falcons were easybeats. Happily the Hunters start their season off at Davies Park, where they have never been beaten.

If the Hunters take three wins from seven games then their season is looking OK, more would be outstanding.

Rounds 14-17 sees four home games in a row, and a nice time of the season to build momentum if they are close enough to the finals race. Three of those four games are very winnable too.

After Round 17, the last six weeks sees four away games in six, and three of those are to the SEQ corner.

PNG HUNTERS 2020 SQUAD

Here is the full 30 man squad as advised after the latest changes announced in January.

Ase Boas and Ila Alu were named as Co-Captains for the upcoming season in February. 

Sadly, Willie Minoga has withdrawn from the 2020 Hunters squad, and as one of his biggest fans in SEQ, it just won’t be the same without him. But the new Willie Minoga could be discovered this season.

Moses Meninga has left to join the Townsville Blackhawks, a great opportunity for one of the Hunters best in recent seasons. That lure of a direct path to an NRL team too good to refuse.

A few players who were dropped during 2019 for disciplinary reasons return for 2020, former Hunter coach Michael Marum says he is OK with the return of Junior Rop, Joe Joshua and Joe Frank. Joe Joshua in particular showed a lot of promise before his demotion.

FULL SQUAD

Terry Wapi 

Junior Rau 

Smith Siviri 

Brandon Nima 

Brendon Gotuno 

Ase Boas 

Nick Hasu 

Enoch Maki 

Ila Alu 

Stanton Albert 

Kevin Appo 

Epel Kapinias 

Rhadley Brawa 

Patrick Morea 

Roy Ellison 

Casey Dickson 

Mark Piti 

Emmanuel Waine 

Gairo Kapana 

Francis Takai 

Charlie Simon 

Baundo Aba 

Shane Haro 

Joe Joshua 

Junior Rop 

Steven Bruno 

Joe Frank 

Gahuna Sailas 

Justin Yoka