PNG Hunters Round 2 Match Summary v Ipswich Jets – Intrust Super Cup 2021

Week Two of the 2021 Intrust Super Cup season has been run and won this weekend and talking about victories the PNG Hunters grabbed their first win of the season over the visiting Ipswich Jets at Runaway Bay, and our PNG Hunters Round 2 Match Summary is here 

This is a quick summary to give some thoughts on the big win over Ipswich, not necessarily a match report.

And this is also an unashamedly pro PNG Hunters opinion piece, as this website remains one of the big PNG Hunters fans in South East Queensland. 

For the official QRL match report follow this link.

PNG HUNTERS ROUND 2 v IPSWICH JETS MATCH RESULT

PNG HUNTERS 44

Tries:
Terry Wapi 15′
Epel Kapinias 23′
Jokadi Bire 29′
Epel Kapinias 41′
Brendon Gutuno 53′
Brendon Gutuno 59′
Edwin Ipape 62′
Brendon Gutuno 75′

Goals:
Charlie Simon 6 Goals

IPSWICH JETS 22

Tries:
Kierran Moseley 7′
Julian Christian 19′
Jordan Carreira 33′
Ben White 71′

Goals:
Josh Cleeland 3 Goals

PNG Hunters Round 2 Match Summary

SECOND HALF COMEBACK KINGS

One thing the PNG Hunters were not known for in many of their previous seasons in the Intrust Super Cup is being able to come back from a half time deficit and overpower teams in the second half. That’s not to say it never happened, just not regularly.

There is certainly no doubt about their second half credentials at the moment.

Whether it is the influence of new coach Matt Church or that the PNG Hunters have used the adversity of the past few years to inspire them, they have quietly become a great second half side, a team who can win any game from any position.

While they fell short against Wynnum in the first weekend, the conditions didn’t help, nor did the fact that the Hunters had the shortest preparation of any Intrust Super Cup team ever, and Wynnum are a quality side. As it was, they kept the Seagulls tryless and down to the deciding penalty goal in the second half last weekend.

If you include the only game of 2020, where the PNG Hunters were massively down to the Souths Logan Magpies at half time but still won, the figures are sensational.

In the three games from 2020 and 2021 the PNG Hunters have won the second halves by 26-6, 12-2 and 28-4. That’s a solid 66 – 12 with only two tries conceded.

Both the many points in attack and tight defence are great signs for the Hunters going forward. Showing a real 80-minute mentality and fitness. Something not always associated with the Hunters in previous seasons.

A slight improvement in the discipline in the first half will see the Hunters being extremely hard to beat this season. The tries conceded to Ipswich in the first half were all a little soft and reasonably close to the line.

FIRST ROUND PERFORMERS DO IT AGAIN

In our first round summary v Wynnum we highlighted the performances of Epel Kapinias, Jokare Bire and Edwin Ipape and all doubled down on that with more of the same against Ipswich and all three of these highlighted players made it onto the try scoring list.

Jokare Bire may have got the pre-season Fox Sports wraps, but forward Epel Kapinias looks like a real player to watch, and he added try scoring to a fine performance in Round One v Wynnum. Kapinias seems to have the size that the Hunters forwards may have lacked a little in past sides, and there’s nothing wrong with his mobility as his second try showed some decent pace and movement for a big man.

Edwin Ipape scored again, which was a fine solo effort from dummy half. He also supplied the final pass for Kapinias’ second try. Hard to think this PNG International was stuck in Wynnum reserve grade in 2019. He certainly is a great weapon to have on the bench behind the reliable Puara Jnr.

Charlie Simon has gone under the radar a little in 2021, being overshadowed a little by having a Boas brother alongside in the halves, but the halfback seems to be delivering on the promise of his first seasons with the Hunters. He supplied two fine cut out passes that led to the first two Brendan Gotuno tries in the second half and his goal kicking looks quite dependable, given there were quite a few sideline conversions on Saturday.

TRY SCORING HEROES

The big try scoring feat from the weekend’s win over Ipswich was winger Brendon Gutuno who grabbed a hattrick. The Hunters have had a great line of wingers in their history like Garry Lo who topped the season try scoring in his glory season, Junior Rau too is a great finisher. Bland Abavu too was another great winger.

But it is good to have another strong winger who is able to take the full advantage of some of their great ball movement. None of Gutuno’s tries were easy either with plenty of Jets defenders to get through for each of his four pointers.

Not forgetting PNG International Terry Wapi who has now scored five tries in the Hunters’ last three games. The Hunters have found that long term fullback solution they have needed since the great Stargroth Amean is no longer playing for the team. His post try celebration was a salute for another great number one in Greg Inglis. Good stuff.

With players like Mead, Coates, Olam and Johnston going so well in the NRL this season, the Kumuls could have a decent back five for the end of season World Cup.

LOOKING AHEAD

Intrust Super Cup takes a week off for Easter which is a nice thing for the players, and gives the Hunters another week to relax after spending a fair chunk of time in quarantine.

They have to travel to Mackay for the next game, their first away game of the year. Mackay are 0-2, and weren’t quite as competitive against Burleigh as they were the previous round against Redcliffe.