At 4:44pm the Ipswich Jets qualified for their third Cup grand final.
This time it will be against Intrust Super Cup new boys – the Townsville Blackhawks next Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
The Jets completed their fifth win in a row and accounted for the PNG Hunters for the first time in 2015 to book their spot in the decider.
The afternoon started with Hunters’ danger man and hooker Wartovo Puara taking advantage of Jets’ defenders left lying on the ground after a quick play the ball.
The speedy hooker took off and found his fullback Stargroth Amean in support to have the Hunters away to a great start at 6-0.
Carlin Anderson thought he had scored a great equaliser but the try was disallowed for a double movement; the Jets were still yet to get off the mark after 20 minutes.
Like all champion Jets halfbacks, Dane Phillips has a great short kicking game; he got the Jets on the scoreboard when he took the ball wide on the right and ran one away to cut back and drop the ball onto his foot.
It was 6-6 after Carlin Anderson converted.
The Hunters took the two points on offer from a penalty to take the lead at 8-6 after 30 minutes.
With 10 minutes to the break the Jets broke the game right open with three tries that would effectively end the game.
Matt Parcell went over for his eighth try of the finals and his 17th this year from 19 games. That gave the Jets some breathing space at 12-8.
Marmin Barba didn’t need breathing space; just the space inside the left hand corner post to record his 29th try for 2015.
The Jets had now gone to 16-8 and the clock was winding down to the break; Carlin Anderson doesn’t do winding down too well. He’d rather latch onto a 100m intercept and run length of the field from under one set of posts to the other.
In the space of 10 minutes the Jets had scored three tries to lead 22-8 at half-time.
The score line stayed at 22-8 until the 55th minute when Josh Cleeland scored backing up on the inside to seal the Jets win at 28-8.
The Jets’ desperation in defence was on show all game; whenever a Hunter looked like making a break or scoring; a green and white body would fling themselves in the way to stop it or knock the ball loose.
It stayed 28-8 until the 80th minute when the Hunters’ Willie Minoga scored and left the score line at 28-12.
The Ipswich Jets will take on the Townsville Blackhawks next Sunday in the Intrust Super Cup grand final.
Click here to watch the highlights.
IPSWICH JETS 28 (Carlin Anderson, Marmin Barba, Josh Cleeland, Dane Phillips, Matt Parcell tries; Carlin Anderson 4 goals) def PNG HUNTERS 12 (Stargroth Amean, Willie Minoga tries; Noel Zeming 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval Oval.
Team Lists
PNG Hunters: 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Noel Zeming 19. Edward Goma 5. Adex Wera 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Ase Boas 8. Henry Noki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Adam Korave 12. Kato Ottio 13. Timothy Lomai 17. Brandy Peter 23. Atte Bina 16. Willie Minoga 14. Thompson Teteh
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Liam Capewell 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Richard Pandia 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 9. Matt Parcell 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Landon Hayes 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 22. Fakahoko Teutau
