The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team are just 80 minutes away from a fairytale finish to their Intrust Super Cup campaign.
The Port Moresby club will make their first grand final appearance tomorrow against Sunshine Coast Falcons at Suncorp Stadium.
The PNG Hunters have already created plenty of history this season: securing the Intrust Super Cup minor premiership for the first time and winning their first finals match, at the fourth attempt.
Captain Ase Boas, who was voted Intrust Super Cup player of the year, says they've achieved a lot but still want more.
"It's not a one-man effort but thanks to the team effort that make it possible to come this far so as a leader I'm really thankful for the team to come this far...the feeling is great, the boys really deserved a rest after the good performance in the major semi so all the boys rest last week so the body is fresh for the big one".
PNG Hunters captain Ase Boas. Photo: RNZI / Melvin Levongo
The Hunters have won 18 of 24 games this season but were thrashed 38-14 when they last faced Sunshine Coast back in April.
The Falcons also ended the run of Michael Marum's side in the first week of last year's finals campaign.
"That's something we wont forget: them coming up here second weekend away, beating us up in front of our home fans - that was one game I will never forget. We've played them eight times..since 2014: we've won four and they've won four so we're equal a lot in that regard. We've won one away, they've won one away so it all comes down back to how we turn up Sunday and approach this very important game".
Falcons CEO Chris Flannery, Captain Dane Hogan, Chairman Ashley Robinson OAM,Coach Craig Ingebrigtsen. Photo: Patrick Woods/News Corp
Sunshine Coast Chairman Ashley Robinson admits he wasn't in favour of the Hunters joining the competition four years ago but says, apart from his own club, they're now his favourite team.
"They have brought so much to the competition and I was so wrong when I questioned the decision. They bring passion, they bring people and the way they play the game and yeah they're physical...but there's no foul play, they just play the game because they love the game and I think it's brought an amazing amount of different things to the competition".
PNG Hunters coach Michael Marum. Photo: RNZI / Melvin Levongo
PNG Kumuls winger Justin Olam has impressed on the wing for the Falcons this season and Ashley Robinson hopes he picks up where left off against his former side.
"He was outstanding in the first round when we played (them). He only played half a game - they had some injury issues with (parent club) Melbourne and they told us he could only play either the first half or the second half. He played the first half and he ran 212 metres in a half of footy so I know that Michael and his crew will have done some work on that for this time".
Whoever prevails will also advance to the NRL Club Championship next weekend against the winners of the New South Wales Intrust Super Premiership.
