HUNTERS WIN CLASSIC
THE PNG Hunters have completed their fairytale run to their first Intrust Super Cup premiership, after cult hero Willie Minoga delivered his team the historic victory over the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
The 12-10 win came in the dying minutes of the thrilling showdown at Suncorp Stadium, with fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
It was a match that had it all – big hits, flashy plays, wasted opportunities and those moments that will go down in rugby league folklore.
For the Hunters, this entire match is one for the history books.
But the moment that summed it all up belonged to Minoga.
With just one minute left on the clock, skipper Ase Boas put through a grubber for the veteran star to equal the match.
Boas then added the two points and it was done – the Hunters had won their first Intrust Super Cup premiership after just four seasons in the competition.
Coach Michael Marum was lost for words.
He said utility Minoga is a bench player because of the impact he brings.
And while Marum did think for one terrifying second that Minoga hadn’t grounded the ball, the impact player delivered in the exact way that he should.
“He’s been one of our best players from the start,” Marum said. “We’ve put him back on the bench as one of our impact players. He is who we can go to when the going gets tough.
“To see him score that try … first of all I thought he dropped it. He fumbles a few balls at training but luckily the bounce went his way – our way.”
The win did not come easily for the fan favourites, who battled it out with Sunshine Coast in front of a record 11,260strong crowd.
The Falcons raced out to a 10-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, with tries to Matthew Soper-Lawler and Joe Stimson, but then struggled to put points on the board as the Hunters’ defence strengthened.
PNG finally broke through in the 41st minute. Halfback Watson Boas pounced on a grubber from his brother Ase to put the team’s first points on the board.
The next 38 minutes were a nervous, nail biting wait for both teams. But it was the Hunters who were given their fairytale finish.
The word in Port Moresby was that today would become an “unofficial public holiday” and the Hunters will certainly walk into the airport to a massive reception.
“That wasn’t only for the team, but the country celebrating right now,” Marum said.