Ipswich Jets v PNG Hunters at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday, May 20 – 3.05pm
Ipswich Jets
1. Wes Conlon 2. Michael Purcell 3. Ben White 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 6. Chris Ash 7. Dane Phillips (c) 8. Mitch Carpenter 9. Luke Capewell 10. Nat Neale 22. Tyson Lofipo 12. Seb Pandia 13. Rory Humphreys 11. Sam Martin 15. Lachlan Roe 16. Huskie Teatau 21. Jesse Roberts
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
PNG Hunters
1. Stargroth Amean 2. Bland Abavu 3. Israel Eliab 4. Adex Wera 5. Paul Wawa 6. Ase Boas (c) 7. Watson Boas 8. Wellington Albert 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Nixon Putt 12. Row David Loko 13. Stanton Albert 14. Silas Gahuna 15. Rahdly Brawa 16. Enock Maki 17. Moses Meninga 18. Ishamel Baikawa 19. Muka Peter Kalu 20. Butler Morris
Coach: Michael Marum
Head to Head: PNG Hunters 4 IPSWICH Jets 3.
LAST TIME THEY PLAYED:
PNG HUNTERS 18 (Adex Wera, Justin Olam, Bland Abavu tries; Ase Boas 3 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 16 (Fakahoko Teutau, Michael Purcell tries; Haydan Lipp 3, Carlin Anderson 1 goal) at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
ROUND 11, 2017.
The Jets have had two wins over the Hunters at North Ipswich. In 2014 and 2016 the Jets came away with the win.
IPSWICH JETS 25 (Kurt Capewell, Nemani Valekapa, Sam Martin, Keiron Lander tries; Wes Conlon 3, Brendon Marshall goals; Dane Phillips field goal) def PNG HUNTERS 12 (Dion Aiye, Timothy Lomai tries; Roger Laka 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
IPSWICH JETS 30 (Richard Pandia 2, Carlin Anderson, Nathaniel Neale, Nemani Suguturaga tries; Carlin Anderson 5 goals) def PNG HUNTERS 12 (Thompson Tetah, Watson Boas tries; Noel Zeming 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
The Jets lost 32-14 in 2015.
The Jets are currently on 10 points and just outside the top six, while the Hunters are flying high in second on 16 points.
The Jets and Hunters have both scored 222 points this season. In defence the Hunters have the Jets’ measure with 168 points compared to 229.
That’s an advantage of 61 points.
The Hunters have played four games away from home this season for three wins. They lost to the Sunshine Coast.
At home the Jets have won one from four. The Jets only win was against the Bears.
HUNTERS TO WATCH
The Hunters last outing against the Pride they gave them a football lesson. The Hunters made eight line breaks to one.
Wartovo Puara is the Hunters’ hooker and loves to run and cause plenty of damage. He’s the Hunters’ most capped player in their history so he brings plenty of experience to the hooking role. If the Jets get caught on the ground he will be gone.
Ase Boas is the Hunters’ leading points’ scorer this year with 86 points. The Hunter’s number six can score tries and kick goals. He also is the Hunters’ main kicker in general play.
Israel Eliab is no stranger to the Jets. He scored three tries against the Jets in their two games against each other in 2015. Including two in Ipswich. The former Hunters’ captain still has plenty of pace and is a great support player.
JETS TO WATCH
The Jets have won four games in a row for the first time since late last season. Bears was grinding and Capras was fancy. Jets need to combine the two and have a great win at home.
Against the Capras the Jets dominated with 54% of the ball and made eight line breaks to three.
Ben White
Ben White’s passing game has been a real weapon this year, he runs and then looks for options that are better than the situation he may find himself in with the ball. He is then excellent at getting a pass away. It’s a big wrap but there has been a bit of Brendon Marshall about White so far this year.
Ben had two line break assists against the Capras.
Nemani Valekapa
The King of Kalbar was back on the weekend and two tries in the first 15 minutes signal what a comeback. Even if you tackle Nem you don’t really tackle him. He makes ground.
Nem broke six tackles against the Capras.
Lachlan Roe
Roe made a great bust on the weekend, running hard and straight then got a great ball away. That’s great skill. Roe and Mitchell this year have been like the “Bash Brothers’ from Mighty Ducks. It’s not complicated it’s just football give me the ball if I’ll make ground and offload.
Roe’s defence has been outstanding making 76 tackles and only missing six this season.
This is a great game with a great atmosphere and vibe about the whole day. Both these sides have great skills.
The Jets will offload and try and move the bigger Hunters’ forwards around while the Hunters’ will be there to out-attack the Jets and give up points confident they can score tries.
Hopefully the Hunters’ start a bit slow after the week off and the Jets can get the jump early and go from there.