South-west footy fans will get a taste of what is hopefully to come when the PNG Hunters bring their HostPlus Cup game against Norths to Toowoomba in May.

The Hunters are based on the Gold Coast due to COVID travel restrictions which limit frequent movement from Papua New Guinea to Queensland, and are taking their home game against defending HostPlus Cup champions Norths out west.

The game between the Hunters and Devils will be played on Saturday, May 7 at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium.

It will be a big day of footy as the Western Clydesdales will also take on Norths in their Hastings Deering Colts match.

This will give footy fans across the Darling Downs a preview of things to come should the Clydesdales be successful in their bid to join the HostPlus Cup in 2023.

SP PNG Hunters CEO Scott Barker is extremely supportive of the initiative and has thanked the Toowoomba Rugby League Board for their willingness to host the SP PNG Hunters.

Barker has a long association with the Clydesdales, working for them in the early 2000’s when they were an affiliate of the Brisbane Broncos.

Clydesdales Chairman Tony Coonan is excited to see HostPlus Cup action come to Toowoomba and for his club to show local fans the standard of footy they could regularly see if the Clydesdales can secure the corporate backing to earn HostPlus Cup admission.

“I really want to applaud the Hunters for their willingness to bring this game against Norths to Toowoomba and give fans in the south-west a chance to see HostPlus Cup action live,” he said.

“This game will be an incredible spectacle as we will have the team representing rugby league-mad PNG up against last year’s HostPlus Cup premiers in Norths.”

Information on tickets will be available soon.