PNG Hunters Fall to Big 48-4 Loss Against Sunshine Coast Falcons

A dominant Sunshine Coast Falcons outfit ran out comfortable 48-4 winners over the PNG Hunters in Round 22 action of the Hostplus Cup, played on Saturday at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Conditions were fine and the ground in good order, but nothing could stop the home side from putting on a scoring clinic against a Hunters team that struggled to find any real foothold in the contest.

The Falcons wasted little time asserting themselves, with Harrison McIndoe crossing for the opening try in the second minute. Zion Johnson touched down in the 14th minute before Flynn Camilleri added another in the 23rd minute, giving the home side early breathing room on the scoreboard.

Mason Peut then took over, scoring twice within the space of seven minutes in the 28th and 35th minutes, while Taine Couper capped off a lopsided first half with a try in the 42nd minute. The Falcons headed to the sheds with a healthy 26-0 buffer at the break.

The second stanza followed a similar pattern, as Zion Johnson crossed for his second try in the 50th minute and Kane Jackson dotted down in the 65th minute. The Hunters eventually broke through via Murray Connors in the 70th minute for their only try of the match, before Thomas Casey closed out the scoring for the Falcons in the 75th minute.

With the boot, Falcons custodian Josh Lynn was reliable throughout, landing six of his nine conversion attempts, while the Hunters were unable to convert their lone try.

The PNG Hunters will now turn their attention to preparation for their next outing as they look to arrest the slide in form.