Hunters win opener

THE SP PNG Hunters kicked off their 2024 campaign in style with a 36-22 win over the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls on Saturday.
The Hostplus Cup round one fixture provided fans at a less than capacity Santos National Football Stadium enough signs that the Paul Aiton era will be a successful one with a seven-try effort in humid conditions.
Centre Clent Lama, who was one of four debutants, grabbed a hat-trick and kicked two goals for a 16-point haul while fellow rookie Weiya Koi bagged a try in a memorable debut.
Debutants Elijah Roltinga and Robert Mathias also acquitted themselves well to the Q-Cup level.
Five-eighth Sakias Komati had a mixed bag but was dangerous with ball in hand keeping the Wynnum-Manly defence guessing and added a couple of try-assists, the most notable leading to Lama’s second and third tries.
The only blemish on Komati’s game was his attempts at goal which returned none from three – all kickable with the customary southerly from the Bisini end non-existent.
Seagulls’ Cruise Ten was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Komati in the second half that left the No.6 winded. The Kumul forward also pulled off a bell-ringer on Koi earlier in an effort to inspire his side but also botched things with a loose carry at a crucial stage late in the contest that eventually led to the Hunters matching-sealing try.
The visitors scored first through lanky centre Connor Broadhurst who ran into a gap in the Hunters line from close range in the 11th minute.
The Hunters finally got into their rhythm later in the half and rattled off three tries the first of which was scored by Lama on the left edge in the 21st minute, his wing partner Brandon Nima was next and fullback Sanny Wabo jagged a four-pointer on the same edge after a great lead-up set.
Wabo’s try in the 28th minute had its genesis from a great run from bench prop Jordan Pat who scattered the Wynnum-Manly defence and surged to the 30-metre line after taking the first hit-up from a restart.
Seagulls half Bryce Donovan reeled one back for his side in the 36th minute after they managed a repeat set deep in the Hunters 50. He slotted the conversion to see the visitors trailing 10-12 at halftime.
Aiton kept reserve forwards Pat and Koso Bandi on to start the second half and added young titan Weiyah Koi in a deliberate ploy to batter the Seagulls through the middle third.
The plan worked a treat as the trio not only gave the Hunters momentum but taxed the Seagulls defence which was visibly struggling in the sweltering humidity.
In the first minute after the restart, hooker Judah Rimbu turned the ball back into Koi who bulldozed his way over the line to cap off two typically brutal charges by Pat and Bandi in the set.
Pat got reward for his non-stop go-forward with a try from close range in the 48th minute for the Hunters get out to a 24-10 lead.
Lama crossed a few minutes later which saw Hunters hit 30.
The visitors shook off the fatigue and applied their own pressure which saw them awarded six consecutive penalties inside the Hunters 20 over an eight-minute period as a scrambling home side did all it could to protect its line.
Back-rower Joshua Stuckey crossed twice (62nd and 68th) cutting back against the grain and running at a smaller defender to get his side back into the contest at 22-30. Komati took a hold of the reins in the final 10 minutes to set up Lama after breaking the line and the rookie claimed his hat-trick and put the game beyond reach of the visors.
A pleased coach Aiton said he was proud of his team’s effort and while it was not the most clinical performance it was an emphatic start to the season.
“I’m really proud of the boys and this is the start we wanted,” Aiton said.
“But I think we gave away a lot of penalties, it is round one and it was expected but that’s something we can improve on as well as our defence.”
PNG Hunters 36 (C Lama 3, B Nima, S Wabo, W Koi, J Pat tries; C Lama 2, Trevor Solu 2 con) WM Seagulls 22 (C Broadhurst, B Donovan, J Stuckey 2 tries; B Donovan 2 con) at Santos NFS, Port Moresby. H/T: 12-10 (Hunters).