Sport: Shutting down offloads key to toppling PNG Hunters

11:19 am on 22 September 2015

The Ipswich Jets say shutting down the Papua New Guinea Hunters' ability to offload laid the platform for their victory in the Queensland Cup preliminary rugby league final.

The Ipswich Jets and PNG Hunters are vying for a spot in the Queensland Cup grand final.

The Ipswich Jets and PNG Hunters are vying for a spot in the Queensland Cup grand final. Photo: Facebook / Ipswich Jets

The Hunters season is over following the 28-12 defeat - their second straight loss, following a 17-game unbeaten run in the regular season.

Ipswich co-coach Shane Walker says they always believed there were a good chance of winning if they could stop the Hunters' second-phase play.

"We did a lot of work on locking up their offloads. Fortunately they didn't get too many but whilst they're quite an exciting team that can play off the cut they are very structured and then on the back of that structure is if they get an offload they

really just come to life and we knew if we could stop that it would nullify what makes them good".

The victory puts Ipswich into their first grand final since 2008, against minor premiers Townsville Blackhawks at Suncorp Stadium.