Pacific / Papua New Guinea

Sport: PNG Hunters slip up at home

10:55 am on 9 July 2018

The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team let a half-time lead slip away as they were beaten 28-20 at home by the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Intrust Super Cup.

Cameron Cullen dotted down to give the visitors a third minute lead before the home side bounced back to enter the break up 14-12 following tries from Junior Rau, the returning Adex Wera and Watson Boas.

PNG Hunters centre Willie Minoga. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie

But the second-placed Dolphins regained the lead early in the second spell with a try to Tom Geraghty before Josh Beehag and extended their advantage with another converted try seven minutes later.

PNG winger Brendon Gotuno's converted try cut the deficit with just over quarter of an hour to play before Sam Anderson sealed the result for Redcliffe five minutes from time, giving the Dolphins the home and away double over the Hunters for 2018.

The defending champion Hunters have slipped to 11th place in the 14-team competition but despite a third loss in five matches, remain just two points outside the top six playoff spots.

Their next three matches are also on home soil, including a first ever game in Lae against Norths Devils as part of "Intrust Super Cup Country Week".