The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League has joined the people of Simbu and all rugby league followers in mourning the death of former PNG Kumul captain Bal Numapo.

Numapo aged 57 from Ogel village in the Sinesine Yongumul District in Simbu Province died following a severe stroke at 10.00am last Saturday August 1, 2020 in Kundiawa.

PNGRFL Chairman Sandis Tsaka said Bal Numapo debuted as PNG Kumul No. 85 against Great Britain on August 5, 1984 against Great Britain in Mt Hagen as a centre. He went on to represent PNG on 14 more occasions scoring four tries, kicking 18 goals and a field goal.

​RABAUL Gurias utility Silas Gahuna has ruled himself out of SP Hunters re-selection as he aims to help the 2015 Digicel Cup premiers break their title drought.
The 25-year-old has been in and out of the Hunters squad since joining the 2017 Queensland Intrust Super Cup premiers in 2016.
But the Papua New Guinea nines representative says he has now settled in with the Gurias after joining the third-placed side in the pre-season.
“I’m enjoying every moment playing for the Gurias,” Gahuna said.
“They have a strong culture which is built around strict discipline.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a representative or senior player, everyone is required to follow club guidelines.

THE SP Hunters are scheduled to return to training on April 14 with Queensland Rugby League’s tentative plans to resume the Intrust Super Cup (ISC) season on June 5, Hunters coach Matthew Church says.
He told The National that the South Pacific Brewery-sponsored side had been advised that no group larger than 10 players and coaching staff could participate in training.
“All ISC clubs and facilities are on lockdown until Tuesday, April 14,” Church said amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
“This date is tentatively set as a soft return to training with no more than 10 people training together.

The SP Hunters team’s return to Port Moresby today (Monday March 16) following their 32-30 win over South Logan Magpies yesterday in Brisbane in Round 1 of the 2020 Intrust Super Cup competition has been deferred.
PNGRFL CEO Reatau Rau in media statement released a short time ago said the SP Hunters players and coaching staff will remain in Brisbane for the next seven days due to the Australian Federal Government’s announcement yesterday on measures taken to control the spread of corona virus or Covid 19.

Sean Walsh
Souths Logan Magpies media

​A second half resurgence, including a hat-trick to Terry Wapi, saw the PNG Hunters open their 2020 season with a victory at Davies Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was all the Magpies early on however and the home side opened up proceedings in a hurry with Vaea Vaea getting across early in the half after some great ball playing on the left edge.
However, this was quickly answered by the Hunters with Keven Appo following up on an offload and putting the ball down under the posts.
In the free-flowing first half, Souths added three more tries before the bell with some individual brilliance from Tom Dearden; showing and going to cross down the left edge of the PNG defence.