HUNTERS NAMED FINAL SQUAD FOR SEASON 2026

CAPTION: SP PNG Hunters 2026 final squad

BY BENJAMIN KOITAKA

SP PNG Hunters have finally unveiled their 2026 Queensland Hostplus Cup season final squad members, with another five exciting young talents, to join them under the development program.

The South Pacific Brewery-sponsored franchise also confirmed veteran lock forward Ila Alu to remain at the helm as the skipper for another campaign, while the rejuvenated Hunters looking set to feature in the Queensland rugby League competition for the 12 straight year.

Head coach Paul Aiton while naming the final squad of the season, highlighted that he has 33-players in the camp, in which the 28 are Hunters contracted while five will remain with the club as development players.

Aiton said Hunters has two-spots left that will be filled by the development players later on in the year.

“I have just named 28 players,” the former PNG Kumuls lock forward turned coach Aiton said today during the season launch in Port Moresby.

“So, we have 30, 31-man squad that are fit to play.

“We are trying to push for the development and younger boys, that we think they had the potential to play or to get a QRL contract.

“So, for this year, we finally had five development players and thanks to the Board and CEO (Scott Barker) for the push.”

Aiton confirmed that the development players still have a chance to earn a QRL contract in future.

“These five players were with us, tried and trained everyday and there are two spots available and one of these development players can fill that.

“They can still get a QRL contract,” Aiton said.

The development players include Chris Culligan, Keven Issac, Felix Beki and Hercules Kondo.

Meanwhile, Hunters CEO Scott Barker commended the sponsors, supporters, families, players, coaching staff for the preparations so far as the season starts draws near in the first weekend of March.