PNG Hunters v Ipswich Jets at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo on Sunday, June 7 – 2.30pm
PNG Hunters: 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Noel Zeming 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Adex Wera 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Ase Boas 8. Henry Noki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Kato Ottio 12. Lawrence Tu’u 13. Adam Korave 14. Brandy Peter 15. Edward Goma 16. Willie Minoga 17. Enock Maki 18. David Lapua 19. Timothy Lomai 20. Sebastian Pandia
Coach: Michael Marum
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Chris Walker 4. Liam Capewell 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Landon Hayes 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Fakahoko Teutau 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 17. Gerico Cecil
Coach: Ben Walker and Shane Walker
Head to Head- Ipswich Jets 1 PNG Hunters 1.
Last time they played:
Round 23 August 9 2014
PNG HUNTERS 40 (Jason Tali 3, Garry Lo, Adex Wera, Wartovo Puara, Willie Minoga tries; Noel Zemming 5, Israel Eliab goals) def IPSWICH JETS 22 (Brendon Marshall 2, Marmin Barba 2 tries; Marmin Barba 3 goals) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
Round 13 2015
The Jets will make their second trip to PNG this week and the Hunters’ home ground Kalabond Oval.
Last year the Jets went there having won four away games in a row but after being up 20-10 at half time and minus fullback of Javarn White, Rod Griffin and centre Nemani Valekapa. The Jets let the lead slip away; in the second half the big Hunters’ forwards got a roll on and the Jets couldn’t stop the momentum losing 40-22.
The Hunters are currently in fourth place on 18 points two points behind the equal first place Jets.
In attack the Jets (376) have scored 76 more points than the Hunters (300). While in defence the Jets have allowed 10 more points 254 to 244 points.
The Jets have scored 11 more tries than the Hunters but the Hunters have only allowed 43 tries past their defence while the Jets have 49.
The Hunters are coming off a bye last week while the Jets travelled to Cherbourg and will travel again this week. The Jets will be looking for a club record equalling 6 wins in a row, while the Hunters are after 7 in a row.
Before the bye the Hunters were only the second team to beat the star studded Townsville. The Jets are the other side to lower their colours this year. The Hunters have won six games in a row and haven’t been beaten since they lost to Wynnum in round 6.
The Hunters haven’t lost at home this year winning all four games including knocking off the premiers the Pride and Mackay.
The Hunters have several potent try scorers; Thompson Teteh has scored 8 tries this year from the right centre position while half Ase Boas scored a hat-trick against the Tweed and has scored 6 tries this season. Hunters’ captain Israel Eliab has chipped in with 5 tries and is always dangerous. Winger Adex Wera scored 3 against the Dolphins and two against the Pride for his season tally of 6.
The Jets won’t take much reminding about Wartovo Puara who busted the Jets several times in the same game last season. Wartovo Puara made 105m from his 8 hit ups and it was his dart in the second half that busted the Jets middle third he then rounded the Jets’ fullback Ben White to score.
This game is the battle of the second phase play with the Hunters boasting 121 offloads this year while the Jets have 163.
The Jets will look to play their style of football, keeping the ball alive and moving the huge Hunters’ pack around. Then taking advantage of big tired forwards with inside balls and angled runners back at the inside shoulder.
The Jets will be without hooker and best defender Matt Parcell this week while he is on Broncos’ duty. Parcell has tackled his way to 444 tackles this year at an average of 40 tackles a game, with only 15 misses from 11 games. Against the big Hunters’ team with big metres gainers like Henry Noki and Esau Siune it will be vital that the Jets middle third hold in defence.
Landon Hayes was starting in his first game last week against Souths filling in for Matt Parcell and did a great job; 5 runs for 44 metres and 22 tackles for two misses and one 40/20 kick on the fourth tackle when he spotted the chance.
The Jets last week missed only 21 tackles their fewest since round four and their second lowest missed tackle count of the year. The Jets had 6 players not miss a tackle.
It’s hard to write a preview of the Jets without talking about Marmin Barba in there somewhere. The flying left winger now has 45 tries from his 50 Intrust Super Cup games but more impressive is his 38 tries from 34 games for the Ipswich Jets. Barba has now scored 256 points for the Jets from 38 tries and 52 goals.
This year Barba has a lazy 16 tries from 11 games. He’s already cracked the ton this year with 106 points.
Captain Kerion Lander will play game 104 for the Jets and become the 8th most capped Jet of all time.
The Jets will be without strike centre Nemani Valekapa this week; Nemani won’t travel to PNG. Nemani has been in great form and his absence is a huge hole for the Jets to fill.
The Jets will also be without utility Troy O’Sullivan.
While the continued form of Josh Cleeland has added another dimension to the Jets’ attack. Cleeland threw a great out ball for Chris Walker on Saturday against Souths and his new found confidence over the last month has seen him take on more responsibility in attack and the Jets’ kicking game. Cleeland has completed a third of the Jets kicking this year and has taken pressure off Dane Phillips particularly with his bombs when the Jets are in attacking position.
Against Souths; Cleeland was outstanding; 10 runs, 89 metres, 4 offloads, 1 line break, 3 line break assists, 3 try assists and 17 tackles for 2 misses.
Cleeland’s defence has been good this season; he’s made 226 tackles from 12 games with 41 misses; tackling at 82%. Cleeland also has 20 offloads this year.
The Jets are up against it this week, travel, players missing against a side that has gained confidence from beating the Blackhawks and won 6 games in a row.
The experience of players like Chris Walker, Kerion Lander, Dane Phillips and Rod Griffin will be vital. Lander, Phillips and Griffin have played over 100 games of Intrust Super Cup and the Jets will call on that experience in this backs to the wall effort.