Melanesian Bowl: Hunters ready to take on Silktails

Author: Jorja Brinums QRL content producer
Timestamp: Fri 3 Mar 2023, 06:14 AM

The PNG Hunters are in Fiji preparing to take on the Kaiviti Silktails in the PacificAus Sports Melanesian Bowl.

The game tomorrow forms part of the Hunters' Hostplus Cup preparations, with Round 1 kicking off on March 11; the Silktails play in New South Wales Rugby League's Ron Massey Cup, which kicks off on March 18.

During a community day in Fiji. Photo: Tommy Butterfield/Hunters

Hunters chief executive officer Scott Barker said the coming together of both teams was "extremely important" after last year's inaugural game at the Gold Coast was cancelled due to severe weather.

“This game will help show the pathway available to Melanesian players to play elite and semi-elite football,” Barker said.

"It was a great disappointment to everyone when last year's game got cancelled.”

But Barker said having the teams, both supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) / PacificAus Sports to play in Australian-based programs, come together to celebrate their cultures and share their experiences was invaluable.

"Both were based in Australia last year and both doing it pretty tough, so it was great to have the players come together in a room to share their experiences… for many, they had come from villages to living here to play," Barker said.

Barker said looked forward to seeing the Hunters in action again after facing Central Queensland Capras in a pre-season trial at the weekend. The Hunters lost 20-14 to the Capras, but Barker said he was buoyed by what he saw.