Hunters down Tigers

Sports

A KITRON Laka double helped the SP Hunters to a come-from-behind 32-24 win over Brisbane Tigers in round 16 of Queensland’s Hostplus Cup at John Kerr Park, Cunnamulla, on Saturday.
The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored Hunters found themselves down 0-14 at one stage only to fight back for their fifth win of the season.
Searching to the right, the Tigers’ shape beat the Hunters’ rushing defence on their second attempt and centre Dan Russell was the beneficiary in the corner.
A deft fifth-tackle kick from fullback Tyler Han then pinned Brisbane on their own line, but an offside penalty on the following play gifted the Tigers free passage up-field and Jayden Nikorima made them pay.
Targeting the space around the ruck, Nikorima broke the line to link with Haele Finau in support, giving Brisbane a 10-point lead.
Nikorima landed a bomb right on the Hunters’ line which ricocheted to find an unmarked Bennett Leslie a few metres out.
Facing a 0-14 deficit midway through the first half, the Hunters suddenly came to life.
Bench forward Emmanuel Waine made an immediate impact to generate some ruck speed with his first carry, and two more quick play-the-balls later Wartovo Puara Jr linked with Han in the backfield who slid over beneath the posts to score.
Bessie Toomaga was the next Tiger to turn that gifted field position into points, producing a special diving effort in the right-hand corner to score in the 28th minute.
The Hunters replied, however, with Judah Rimbu sweeping down their left edge and dropping a charging Kitron Laka back against the grain to cross over beside the right post for a 12-18 scoreline at halftime.
Taking possession 20m out from Brisbane’s line, Laka pushed through four attempted tacklers to dive over beside the right post and bring the scores to 18-12 at the break.
After the break, bench hooker Kingstimer Paraia produced a trademark burrowing effort close to the line to score.
Paraia was at it again just four minutes later, darting from hooker and finding back-rower Laka who gave the Hunters the lead for the first time in the match.
The Tigers had no answer for Paraia around the ruck as he orchestrated yet another Hunters try for Jordan Pat in the 56th minute.
The Tigers made the most of the opportunity through Bernard Gregorius who finished a nice left edge movement in the 61st minute, diving in the corner to narrow the Hunters’ lead to just four points when Jonah Pezet added the extras.
Those four points quickly became eight, however, when Hunters debutant Liam Joseph finished a slick four-pass shift to the right edge. Joseph’s try sealed the result for the Hunters, who repelled a desperate Tigers outfit in the dying stages to finish off an inspiring comeback win.
Head coach Matthew Church was delighted with his players’ response after conceding an early lead. “That was a brave effort from us,” he said.
“I’m really proud of the way the players responded. Church paid tribute to Joseph and fellow debutant Francis Kembis.
“Both our debutants were huge for us,” he said. “Liam’s positioning was excellent and obviously a great reward to get that try, and Francis played 67 minutes straight for us.”