Matthew Church makes his debut as SP Hunters head coach when his side takes on Souths Logan Magpies in round one of the 2020 Intrust Super Cup competition in Brisbane this weekend.

Three new faces – Stanley Olo, Mark Piti and Emmanuel Waine – have been named on the extended bench in the 18- man travelling squad and will debut in the SP Hunters colours should they be named in the final 17 team announced an hour before kick off. Ila Alu has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out in the ‘trial’ match against Northern Pride in Cairns on February 29, 2020.

PAPUA New Guinea Kumuls utility back and South Sydney Rabbitohs recruit Edene Gebbie says training at the National Rugby League club has so far been the toughest in his career.
The Koiari man was in Port Moresby last week after he was given a break due to a groin injury he had suffered at last month’s NRL Nines.
The 24-year-old told The National at the Oil Search National Football Stadium that apart from coach Wayne Bennett, everything about the club — including their players, staff and the training — was new to him.
However, Gebbie said he had settle in well at Redfern during the pre-season and was prepared to roll his sleeves up and dig deep for a spot in the first-grade side over the course of his two-year deal.

SP Hunters coach Matthew Church has named a 20 man squad for the second pre-season ‘Trial’ against Northern Pride in Cairns, Australia this weekend. 

The 20-man squad is: 

1. Terry Wapi

2. Junior Rau

3. Joe Joshua

By Colleen Edwards
QRL Content Producer – statewide competitions / Women’s Media

PNG Hunters coach Matt Church is counting on a familiar face and fresh talents to help lift the side in the 2020 season.

Powerful forward Rahdly Brawa returns to the squad after one year away in Australia with Wynnum Manly Seagulls, but all the club’s other signings have earned their place via the Digicel Cup.
“My appointment was made fairly late in the year, so a squad of 40 was essentially picked for me and we whittled that down to 30 and there were a couple of stand-outs there, guys like Casey Dickson and Emmanuel Waine,” Church said.

​Ase Boas is the SP PNG Hunters captain for the 2020 season, the announcement was made at the 2020 launching of the SP PNG Hunters season at the National Football Stadium.

The Hunters turned up in their 2020 season jersey in front of sponsors and the media for the full team announcement and the naming of the captain and vice-captain.