Easts Tigers v PNG Hunters preview

The Papua New Guinea Hunters take on East Tigers at Tapout Energy Stadium on Saturday 21 March 2015. The Hunters have not won any game against the Tigers during the last to encounters but this time the Hunters will be there to gain some respect and to beat the Tigers at home soil.  The last time  the PNG Hunters played Tigers at the Tapout Energy Stadium was  in front of a large crowed  that finished in a nail biting 20-20 draw.

Round 3 sees the 2015 version of that game with the promise of another quality encounter. Interestingly both teams are in a similar position to where they were 12 months ago. The Hunters are undefeated and top of the table, whilst the Tigers are rebuilding as they work on getting new combinations.

The Tigers could easily have been sitting aside the Hunters at the top of the table after two rounds, with a 20-12 win over the Northern Pride in Round 1, followed by an unlucky 18-14 loss to Wynnum Manly last weekend.
Meanwhile the Hunters are arguably the form team of the competition, following a 40-18 demolition of Souths Logan in Round 1 and an equally impressive 30-26 win over the highly fancied Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend.
For the Tigers, Shane Neumann and Tom Butterfield have been two of the Tigers standout players in the opening two rounds, alongside tough young forwards Christian Welch, Francis Talau and Dean Britt. The Tigers forwards will no doubt have their hands full matching a big, strong Hunters forward pack this weekend.
The Hunters have started this season as they started last season, as the competitions entertainers, with their big, fast backs scoring plenty of tries. Last season’s Intrust Super Cup’s leading try scorer Gary Lo is gone; however centres Adex Wera and Thompson Tetah, both with 3 tries in 2014 and fullback Stargroth Amean with 2 tries in 2014, all appear well equipped to take up the mantle.
Saturdays encounter promises to be another exciting, action-packed blockbuster in front of what is expected to be a big crowd at Tapout Energy Stadium. This one is well worth the trip to Coorparoo to see the clash between two of the competitions front-runners.

Teams:
Easts Tigers
1. Eddie Tautali 2. Richie Kennar 3. Shane Neumann 4. Cameron Munster 5. Mahe Fonua 6. Shaun Nona 7. Joel Romelo 8. Matthew Zgrajewski 9. Tommy Butterfield 10. Christian Welch 11. Dane Hogan (c) 12. Jake Foster 13. Troy Giess 14. Liam McDonald 15. Francis Tualau 16. Dean Britt 17. Liam Tyson 18. Felise Kaufusi
Coach: Craig Ingebrigtsen
PNG Hunters
1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Adex Wera 4. Thompson Teteh 5. Edward Goma 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Roger Laka 8. Henry Noki 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Esau Siune 11. Kato Ottio 12. Brandy Peter 13. Adam Korave 14. Ase Boas 15. Atte Bina 16. Willie Minoga 17. Warren Glare 18. Noel Zeming 19. Jay Garrison
Coach: Michael Marum