The SP PNG Hunters have produced back-to-back wins for the second time this season, making light work of the Western Clydesdales 40-4 in Round 13 of the QRL Hostplus Cup.
The growing crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium were treated to a high-scoring affair on Saturday, 10th June as the Hunters continued their impressive run of form at home this season.
The Hunters survived the early raid comfortably. They worked well from the inside to repel a clunky Clydesdales attack on both edges.
Taking confidence from their defense, the Hunters moved the ball smartly in yardage, finding good meters through Benji Kot on the left edge and Epel Kapinias on the right.
With the game settling into an early grind, the Hunters again attacked with their defense.
A promising backline movement from the visitors came to a sudden halt when Rodrick Tai and Solo Wane jammed expertly on the right edge to prevent a certain try.
Joshua Mire’s successful conversation gave the Hunters a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes. Brandon Nima and his new centre partner – debutant Joshua Lau – worked together effectively to contain the Clydesdales attack, bundling the ball carrier into touch not once, but twice in the space of five minutes.
Having dominated without the ball, Nima finally got his chance in attack.
Some bruising defence from Moide and Junior Rop forced an error in yardage from the visitors and halfback Judah Rimbu made them pay with a perfectly weighted grubber into the in-goal.
Clydsedales fullback Jordan Lipp couldn’t clean up the loose ball and Nima was the beneficiary one channel wider. With a 16-0 lead courtesy of Mire’s conversion, the Hunters took plenty of confidence into the break and started the second half with aplomb.
Forcing an early error with their line speed, the Hunters quickly set up camp on the Clydesdales line. Sanny Wabo was next to get in on the action, pouring through the space behind the markers in yardage to break into the backfield.
Another big right footstep wrongfooted the fullback as Wabo finished a spectacular solo try much to the delight of the crowd.
As the scoreboard climbed, it was only a matter of time until Morea crossed the line.
He eventually did in the 51st minute, slicing through the defence on the left edge to pass Lau into space. A good offload back to Morea beat the cover defence as the Hunters took a 34- point lead.
As fatigue set in and the conditions took its toll, the error count rose for both sides. In the disruption, the visitors scored a consolation try through Drew Timms to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
A late try to strike centre Rodrick Tai summed up the Hunters dominance in this game.
Their spine players engaged the line effectively to create space for Morea on the edges, and the rookie fullback summed things up smartly from there.
With the confidence of back-to-back wins, the Hunters will again look to make the most of their home ground advantage when they host Souths-Logan Magpies at Santos NFS on Saturday, 17th June.