Our very own SP PNG Hunters will take on the Kaiviti Silktails in the PacificAus Sports Melanesian Bowl challenge this afternoon at 4:30pm (PNG time) at the Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka in Fiji.
The game this afternoon forms part of the Hunters’ Queensland Hostplus Cup preparations for round 1 which will kick off on March 11th. The Silktails play in the New South Wales (NSW) Rugby League’s Ron Massey Cup, which kicks off on March 18.
The Hunters Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott Barker said the coming together of both teams was extremely important after last year’s inaugural game at the Gold Coast was cancelled due to severe weather.
“This game will help show the pathway available to Melanesian players to play elite and semi-elite football,” Barker said.
“It was a great disappointment to everyone when last year’s game got cancelled.”
But, Barker said having the teams come together to celebrate their cultures and share their experiences was invaluable. “Both were based in Australia last year and both doing it pretty tough, so it was great to have the players come together in a room to share their experience.
For many, they had come from villages to living here to play,” Barker said.
The SP PNG Hunters squad list for match this afternoon: Morea Morea Solo Wane Ben Kelly Rodrick Tai Brandon Nima Judah Rimbu Jamie Mavako Junior Rop Wesser Tenza Epel Kapinias Sherwin Tanabi Julius Yakopa Sakias Komati Trevor Solu Siki Konden Tom Moide Joshua Mire Matthew Jesse Sanny Wabo.