Papua New Guinea SP Hunters, middle-forward Tommy Moide has officially resigned from the team after a single season in the Hostplus Cup. The announcement was made by Hunters chief executive Scott Barker, confirming Moide's departure due to his desire to focus on personal priorities, including family and career goals. Barker stated, “I can confirm that Tommy Moide has resigned. He asked to step down to concentrate on his health, family, and career. We respect that, and we wish him well on his new journey.” The SP PNG Hunters have bounced backed into the winners circle after three consecutive loses defeating the Tweed Seagulls 34 -18 at home in Port Moresby on Saturday. Coach Stanley Tepend said that win came about because the boys never gave up. “With the disappointing loss last week at home doubled with injuries and suspensions, the boys had to re-gather and to play their role this weekend” Tepend said. SP PNG Hunters Beat Tweed Seagulls 34 - 18 [Photo by SP Hunters] This resulted in the Tommy Moide diving over from the ruck under the sticks 9 minutes after Tweed five-eight Toby Sexton crossed over in the opening minutes of the first half. Both conversion were successful bringing the scores 6 all 10 minutes into the first half. SP Hunters prop Junior Rop scored a hat-trick of tries to help his side earn a 26-12 win over the Kaiviti Silktails and claim the inaugural Melanesian Bowl at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, Fiji, on Saturday.
Rop put in an assured performance in the club’s second preseason fixture in as many weeks after a poor display in last week’s 20-12 loss to the visiting Central Queensland Capras. In that match at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, Rop’s ball handling was an issue with the rugged ball carrier guilty of several unforced errors in dry conditions but the 28-year-old enforcer muscled his way over the Kaiviti line thrice in an 11-minute period (56th, 59th and 67th minutes) of the second half of a match played in wet and slippery conditions. The Hunters trailed 4-12 at halftime but came back strongly in the second dig scoring 22 unanswered points. The PNG Hunters took to Bycroft Oval at Runaway Bay, with a host of supporters in attendance, and produced a stunning 32-24 win over competition heavyweights Burleigh Bears. The Hunters started strongly and maintained their dominance right through until the final stages to notch an emotional victory at their home-away-from-home in Runaway Bay. The Hunters defended their errors strongly to begin the game, pressuring Bears winger Tony Francis into dropping the ball in Burleigh’s first attacking movement and then cleaning up a dangerous Guy Hamilton grubber shortly afterwards. The confidence with which the Hunters defended their line then quickly translated into their efforts with the ball. A clever chip kick from Kingstimer Paraia from inside his own half forced an error from the Bears and fullback Tyler Han was in perfect position to punish the mistake, plucking the loose ball out of the air and running in the Hunters' first try in the sixth minute. Hunters prop Francis Kembis was next to get in on the action when he scored beside the right upright in the 13th minute. Some lovely deception from hooker Wartovo Puara fooled the ruck defence and pitched Kembis into half a gap on the Bears tryline and the powerful front rower would not be denied from there. The Hunters were almost in again in the 30th minute when a smart left edge shift through Judah Rimbu and Han created the space for Han to drop a grubber kick into the in goal. Hunters centre Benji Kot won the race to the ball but the Hunters were called back for an obstruction in the lead up. The Bears managed to slow the Hunters' momentum as the game settled into a grind but didn’t look like threatening to score as the Hunters dominated proceedings to take a 12-0 lead into the break. Reigning Dally M Centre of the Year Justin Olam has extended his contract with the Storm for a further four years, keeping him in Melbourne until at least the end of the 2026 season. The Papua New Guinea international Olam made his first-grade debut for the Storm in 2018 and has established himself as one of the finest centres in the game, playing 76 NRL games to date including the 2020 Telstra Premiership Grand Final. |
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2022 Results, Draw and Ladder
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Round 1 SP PNG Hunters 16 Mackay Cutters 10 Round 1 Mackay Cutters vs SP PNG Hunters ISC Ladder after Round 6DisclaimerThis is NOT the Hunters Official website and we do not represent them.
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