Judah Rimbu’s hat-trick heroic propelled the SP PNG Hunters to a comprehensive 36-18 victory over Ipswich Jets during their round 10 clash of the Queensland Rugby League Hostplus Cup on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
For the first time this season, the Hunters have registered three consecutive wins on the trot. They demolished the Townsville Blackhawks with a scoreline of 50-16 in round 8, backed it up with another impressive performance, thumping the Northern Pride with a 30-12 win in round 9 and continued their stellar performance, smashing the Ipswich Jets with a 36-18 triumph in round 10.
The Hunters and Jets showcased a try scoring blitz in the first half, recording a total of six tries – both teams bagged three tries each. The Jets were unsuccessful with two of their goals, while the Hunters failed to convert one goal, leaving the home side taking a slight 16-14 lead over the visitors.
In the second half, the Jets scored first in the opening set and leapfrogged the Hunters to 18-16. It took the Hunters a while to swing the momentum. When the SP Brewery-sponsored outfit found their groove in the 63rd minute, the tries came raining, leaving the Jets on the back foot and finishing the game in style with a commanding win.
Judah Rimbu in particular had a memorable afternoon, scoring three tries, running over 100 meters and playing an instrumental role in the Hunters' resounding victory over Jets. The explosive rake was a threat around the park, directing and controlling the flow of the game.
While coach Paul Aiton was happy with the win, he expressed disappointment in the way the Hunters started the game in the first half.
“I’m a little bit frustrated but happy with the win. We knew they (Jets) would come out firing and they did. We were a little bit tired in the first few sets, to be honest. It’s something for us to work on and improve,” Aiton said.
The PNG Hunters will travel to Australia and take on the Mackay Cutters in round 11 of the QRL Hostplus Cup on Sunday, May 26th, at BB Print Stadium in Mackay.
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