Hunters form slump continues

The SP PNG Hunters suffered another heartbreaking loss on home soil, going down to the Burleigh Bears with a 22-12 margin in Round 13 of the QRL Hostplus Cup on Sunday, 14 June 2026, at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Sitting second last on the ladder with 2 wins out of 11 games, the Hunters showed desperation and enthusiasm to pull off an upset, but the visiting Burleigh Bears crushed coach Paul Aiton's men’s hearts on their turf.

The home side kicked off the proceedings to a flying start, with dummy-half Trevor Solu receiving an offload from prop Sylvester Namo in the Bears’ red zone to score under the uprights, and Solu converted his own try, leading the contest 6-0.

The visitors responded in the ensuing set and dominated the match, registering 3 unconverted tries through Brailey McConnell, Lee Turner Rau, and Callum Gromek, leapfrogging the Hunters to a 6-point lead (12-6).  

Six minutes before the break, the Bears made a costly error inside their 30-meter line, with second-rower Limbi Henry catching a loose carry ball and offloading it to support player Joel Gena, who scored under the sticks to level the score at 12-12.

The fourth-placed Bears were first to hit the scoreboard in the 55th minute through Ryan Foran, extending their lead to 16-12. They converted a penalty goal and scored again in the 69th minute through Kane Bradley, putting the game beyond doubt with a 22-12 result. 

Suspensions and injuries have contributed to the Hunters’ losing streak, with the team struggling to find consistency. With 9 rounds remaining before the finals, the Hunters hope to rebound and keep their season alive when they host the Northern Pride in Round 14 on Sunday, June 21st, at Santos National Football Stadium.