The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team finished with only nine players on the field during a controversial 40-12 loss to Brisbane Tigers on Sunday.
The PNG Hunters have based themselves in Australia for the 2021 season. Photo: Vanessa Hafner / QRL
The Hunters had opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a try to winger Norman Brown and regained the lead when midfielder Jokadi Bire dotted down in the 27th minute.
But the teams went into half-time tied at 12-all after the Hunters had twice turned over possession in their own half, allowing the Tigers to score their second try just 10 seconds before the halftime.
Hunters centre Brandon Nima and Brisbane prop Sam Lavea were both sent to the sin bin three minutes into the second half before the Tigers scored two tries in three minutes to open up a 24-12 advantage 14 minutes into the second spell.
Shortly after being restored to 13 players, Hunters second rower Ben Kelly was sent off for lifting in a three-man tackle.
The Tigers extended their lead to 36-12 before Samuel Yegip, Sylvester Namo and Charlie Simon were all given an early shower in a dramatic final ten minutes, as Fiji international Isaac Lumelume capped a comprehensive Brisbane win with a try just before the fulltime siren.
The Hunters suffered back to back defeats for the first time this season. Photo: Vanessa Hafner / QRL
Hunters coach Matt Church believed the player dismissals were not the main reason his side was beaten.
"The game was starting to slip from our grasp before that - we couldn't build pressure, didn't kick well enough and get to the end of sets. We should have scored more points in the first half and didn't give ourselves a chance to mount pressure in the second half," he said.
"I'm proud of the way our guys dug in when we were down to 12 then nine men. We defended for the last part of the match four men down as the Tigers tried to catch us
short."
The Hunters also lost two players to injury at Bycroft Oval, with try-scorer Jokadi Bire and interchange forward Emanuel Waine departing with rib and calf injuries during the second spell, to accentuate the home side's lack of numbers.
Meanwhile PNG born former Tigers hooker Tom Butterfield was a surprise call-up for the Hunters. The 32 year old played 19 minutes to give Wartovo Puara Jnr some respite in his club record 115th appearance.
Tom Butterfield made a return to the Intrust Super Cup. Photo: Colleen Edwards / QRL
However, there is light on the horizon with the experienced forward Stanton Albert and newcomer Gilmo Paul set to be available for selection this weekend.
The duo watched on from the sideline just hours after completing their two weeks of quarantine in a Brisbane hotel and Church said the pair will provide a big boost.
"It will be really good to have them in and around the group. I'm looking forward to seeing Gilmo in the Hunters' set-up for the first time and Stanton has been
around at this level for a while and his experience and enthusiasm will be valuable for us as some of our guys are getting used to the game the pressures of Intrust Super Cup football."