Wane stars as Hunters win

WINGER Solo Wane bagged a treble as the SP Hunters broke their longest losing streak to register a 34-22 win over Northern Pride in round 14 of the Queensland Intrust Super Cup in Atherton on Saturday night.
His 61st-minute try was vital – a scorching run down the right-hand touchline that enabled the Hunters to break a 16-all deadlock.
Charlie Simon crossed from a kick nine minutes later to spark scenes reminiscent of rugby league in PNG.
The loud Hunters fans in the crowd near the dead-ball line celebrated with the team, waving flags and lapping up a treasured victory.
Junior Rau finished the match in style when he sprinted down the left-hand touchline to score in the final minute.
This was a well-deserved win for a Hunters team that has battled challenges all season. They finished with only one bench player as skipper Ila Alu (head injury assessment), Samuel Yegip (ankle) and Dilbert Isaac (finger) received knocks.
But the win was completed in style against a Pride team playing before its wider home fans with a finals place on the line.
“I’m ecstatic for the boys because they fought really hard for this,” coach Matthew Church said.
“They have had this performance in them for a while and they made some great decisions on the field and the results showed.
“We had great support from the community. It felt a bit like home for some of the boys with the support.”
The Hunters had to claw their way back after the Pride scored in the 10th and 16th minutes to take an 8-0 lead.
But errant goal-kicking hurt the Pride, who converted only one of their five tries. The Pride kept fighting but the Hunters answered each of their replies in the second half.
In contrast, the Hunters kicked five of their six conversions, helping them to a 12-8 halftime lead.
“This is a good experience for our players and it was a chance to get away from Runaway Bay where we’ve spent most of the year,” Church said.
“It was still a challenge to come here against a team like the Pride who have played some excellent football this year. But our guys embraced the opportunity and made the most of it.”
Brandon Nima opened the scoring for the Hunters with a try in the 25th minute that helped to lay the foundation for a memorable night for the Hunters.
The Hunters host Mackay Cutters this weekend.
Hunters 34 (Solo Wane 3, Brandon Nima, Charlie Simon, Junior Rau tries, Ase Boas 4 goals, Simon goal) beat Pride 22 (Shawn Bowen, Grant Anderson, Matthew Musumeci, Bernard Lewis, Joshua Stuckey tries, Anderson goal).
Results: Sat, July 17 – Falcons 18 Tweed Heads 40, Bears 26 Wynnum Manly 20, Dolphins 26 Jets 22, Magpies 18 Blackhawks 28, Cutters 16 Devils 40, Pride 22 Hunters 34; Sun, July 18 – Tigers 22 Capras 30.