The Penrith Panthers emerged victorious over the PNG Hunters with a 20-12 win in a trial match

Last night at the National Stadium in Port Moresby, the SP Papua New Guinea Hunters faced off against the Penrith Panthers in a trial match, resulting in a 20-12 victory for the Panthers. The game took place under the stadium lights, drawing a massive crowd of over 15,000 spectators, marking the official opening of the stadium. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of Papua New Guinea inaugurated the stadium and ceremonially kicked off the match.

The Panthers wasted no time in making an impact, as Leilani Latu scored the first try of the game early in the first quarter. Captain Jamie Soward successfully converted, giving the Panthers a 6-0 lead. The intensity of the match escalated with robust tackles and aggressive plays from both teams. The Hunters managed to respond with a try from Adex Were just before halftime, narrowing the score to 6-4 after an unsuccessful conversion.

As halftime approached, the Panthers extended their lead with a try from Josh Hall, followed by a successful conversion by Soward, bringing the score to 12-4 at halftime. In the second half, the Hunters thrilled the home crowd by scoring through new recruit Philemon Kimiseve, reducing the deficit to 12-8 despite an unsuccessful conversion attempt.

Both teams showcased their skills in attack and defense, but the Panthers’ NRL experience proved decisive as they scored two more tries, courtesy of Malakai Zelezniak, increasing their lead to 20-8 after two unsuccessful conversions. However, the Hunters managed to score a last-minute try through Sailas Gahuna, ending the match with a final score of 20-12 in favor of the Panthers.

Following the conclusion of the match, the skies of Port Moresby were illuminated by fireworks, marking the official opening of the stadium in a dazzling display of celebration.