Folau, Genia star in Valley Hunters huge victory over Piggies

Former Australian Wallabies teammates Israel Folau and Will Genia suited up for the Valley Hunters on Friday night, 14 August 2026, at Sir John Guise Stadium, helping the Valley men cruise past the University Piggies with a commanding 33-7 victory. 

Although the Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) Men’s Premier Grade Round 17 fixture did not live up to its billing due to the one-way traffic contest, the fans were entertained by the Wallabies’ duo, Folau in particular, who played with composure but looked threatening on the pitch every time he touched the ball.

The Hunters opened the scoring in 15 minutes of play following a short-side play, which saw Folau receive an offload from the winger, and he assisted support player Will Genia, who raced to score an untouched try under the uprights, leading the contest 7-0.

Following Genia’s opening five-pointer, the floodgates opened, with the Valley Hunters flexing their muscles and registering three additional tries to lead the one-sided affair with a comfortable 21-0 at the break.

Sitting on their haunches in the first half, the Piggies regrouped and bagged their first try, reducing the deficit to 21-7. However, the celebration was short-lived as the Hunters responded with back-to-back tries and put the game beyond doubt with a convincing 33-7 scoreline. 

Valley Hunters’ coach Frank Genia praised his ruthless men, particularly lauding Folau and Will, for providing leadership on the pitch and leading the team as a cohesive unit for 80 minutes.

“I'm happy for the win. Credit to the boys. He is Israel Folau. He is the biggest player on the field, but he is the most humble man. He is God-fearing. He loves his God and loves his family. We are a Christian nation, so to have him here is special,” Genia said. 

Coach Genia credited Folau for accepting the club’s invitation to be in Port Moresby to not only promote the Valley Hunters’ fundraising drive but also play with the local boys and give back to the sport. 

“It’s pretty special to have Israel play for us tonight. He is a special player both in rugby league and rugby union. He is one of the few athletes who has excelled at the top level in both codes,” Genia said.  

“So, to have him here and supporting grassroots rugby union is awesome for the code. It’s good for the club and rugby union in PNG. We are privileged to have him here through his relationship with Will.”

Genia explained that Folau’s visit is to promote the club’s end-of-year tour, creating opportunities for the local players to showcase their skills internationally and secure overseas contracts.

The coach also challenged the governing body, PNG Rugby Union, to get its act together while urging other clubs participating in the Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) to provide similar platforms for their players, acknowledging Harlequins, Nova, and Brothers.  

Despite flying from Australia to PNG and playing at night, Folau explained that he had to lace on the boots and thanked the Genia brothers and the Valley Hunters Rugby Union Club for the invitation. 

“I’m pretty tired at the moment, but it’s great to be here. It’s my first time visiting Papua New Guinea. I’m grateful to Will and Frank, including the Valley Hunters, for the opportunity to come here and be part of the game and give back to grassroots rugby,” Folau said.

He added that the game was physical: “It was actually harder than I thought. It was very physical, but it was good playing with Will again after eight years. The fans are quite passionate. The atmosphere was great. I really enjoyed it.” 

Folau encouraged those who aspire to play both rugby league and rugby union with this message: “The first thing is to enjoy the game. Put God first, work hard, stay disciplined, and try to learn the craft as best as you can.”  

Following PNG Rugby Union’s suspension for almost two years, Folau’s visit upon the Valley Hunters’ invitation has given hope for the code. His presence in the country has drawn attention from both rugby union and rugby league alike. 

Meanwhile, Wallabies greats Matt Giteau, Henry Speight, and Aidan Toua previously visited PNG, with Folau becoming another high-profile player to visit Port Moresby. Genia expects more big-name players to visit the country in the future, and appealed to the governing body, CRU, and the provincial associations to work together to revive the game in the country.