Morea to bolster Hunters backline after pre-season stint with Cowboys

Elusive fullback Morea Morea has rejoined PNG Hunters after a short stint with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Hunters chief executive officer Scott Barker said Morea’s valuable experience gained from Cowboys paddock at National Rugby League level is adding immensely to the team’s pre-season efforts.

“Morea has already shared a lot of his experiences with the current playing group, just as Judah Rimbu and Epel Kapinias did last year,” Barker told NBC News.  

“The more we can get our players exposed to the next level of training and playing the better for everyone.”

The whizz kid was initially offered a train-and-trial deal by Cowboys towards the end of last year after an impressive Pacific Championships campaign with PNG Kumuls.

Morea had the opportunity to train with fellow Kumul teammates in Robert Derby, Zac Laybutt and Jimmy Ngutlik under NRL coach Todd Payten, for the first block of Cowboys pre-season.

It is understood Cowboys have named their final 30-man roster for 2025 NRL season, omitting some of its prospects, including the Hunters star fullback.

“The NQ Cowboys asked to have Morea on a second arrangement for a train and trial period up until the Christmas breakm,” Barker said of the arrangements between by the Cairns-based club.

“This was similar to what we’ve previously done with the Dolphins NRL. We thank the NQ Cowboys for giving Morea the opportunity to train with them learn under their high-level coaching and performance teams.”

The 23-year-old is amongst some of the returning members of the Hunters squad from last season including Junior Rop and Solo Wane.

Rop and Wane were signed by French club Baroudeur Pia XII for the France Elite 1 competition scheduled from September 2024 to April 2025.

But, the Hunters duo couldn’t travel due to Visa issues and have also joined the Port Moresby-based club in second phase of pre-season.