Hunters to end seven-year Highlands drought with Goroka trial

PNG Hunters fullback Douglas David taking on Ipswich Jets defence during a match in the 2025 Hostplus Cup season at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby (Image: Hunters)

The SP PNG Hunters will bring elite rugby league back to the Eastern Highlands for the first time in nearly seven years, confirming a historic pre-season trial match against the Ipswich Jets at the National Sports Institute.

The clash, scheduled for Sunday, 22nd February, would be first time the Hunters have taken a fixture to the regional provinces since their 2019 country round appearance in Enga.

The move signals a strategic shift for the club, which has faced calls to decentralize its operations and engage more directly with its massive fan base outside of Port Moresby. By selecting Goroka, the Hunters are tapping into one of the country’s most passionate rugby league heartlands.

“This fixture represents a significant moment for Goroka and the Highlands region,” the club stated, expressing that the move acknowledges the area's intense rugby league culture and its historic contribution to the national game.

Former PNG Hunter Roberth Mathias (left) and teammates Jordan Pat alongside Zebbedy Kip charging at a Jets player (Image: Hunters)

The match in Goroka will serve as a critical platform for the Hunters’ 2026 Hostplus Cup preparations. It offers a high-stakes environment for players to test combinations and match fitness against Australian opposition before the regular season begins.

For the Ipswich Jets, the trip offers a rare experience of the Highlands’ unique atmosphere, where a capacity crowd is expected at the National Sports Institute.

The club believes the regional visit is essential to its vision of being a truly national team, strengthening the bond between the squad and the communities that support them from afar.

Kick-off is scheduled for 2:00pm. Local authorities are expected to prepare for a surge in visitors to Goroka, with supporters from neighboring provinces likely to make the trip for a rare glimpse of their heroes in action.