The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team are looking forward to their first game in five weeks, after a ban on community sport in much of Queensland was lifted on Friday.
The Hunters last game was a 40-30 defeat by the Mackay Cutters on July 24, before South East Queensland entered a Covid-19 lockdown the following weekend.
The lockdown ended two weeks ago but a suspension on community sport activity expired on Friday.
The PNG Hunters have relocated to Queensland for the 2021 season. Photo: Scott Davis / QRL
The PNG Hunters have been based at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast since March and coach Matt Church said that's given them a slight advantage heading into the resumption of their season this weekend.
"Because we're in a private facility we've been able to train in small numbers. If you're on council land that pretty much ruled you out because you're outdoors and doing things outside the bubble basically, so we've been able to train in the facility that we're at," said Church.
The PNG Hunters have three games left in the regular season, starting with a home clash on Sunday afternoon against the Souths Logan Magpies, but are already out of contention for the top eight playoffs.
The team will round out their season with rescheduled games against Central Queensland Capras and Tweed Heads Seagulls next month before the players can finally return to their loved ones.
"As soon as these guys are no longer needed in Queensland we'll get them home to their families," Church said.