2017 Queensland Cup

In 2017, the lineup of teams remained unchanged for the third consecutive year.

{{5McIntyre

| RD1= Qualifying / Elimination Finals

| RD2= Major / Minor Semi-finals

| RD3= Preliminary Final

| RD4= Grand Final

| RD1-seed1= 3

| RD1-team1= {{leagueicon|Balmain|15}} Easts

| RD1-score1= 20

| RD1-seed2= 6

| RD1-team2= {{leagueicon|Townsville Blackhawks|15}} Townsville

| RD1-score2= 16

| RD1-seed3= 4

| RD1-team3= {{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|15}} Sunshine Coast

| RD1-score3= 26

| RD1-seed4= 5

| RD1-team4= {{leagueicon|Souths Logan Magpies|15}} Souths Logan

| RD1-score4= 18

| RD2-seed1= 1

| RD2-team1= {{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|15}} PNG Hunters

| RD2-score1= 6

| RD2-seed2= 2

| RD2-team2= {{leagueicon|Redcliffe|15}} Redcliffe

| RD2-score2= 4

| RD2-seed3= 3

| RD2-team3= {{leagueicon|Balmain|15}} Easts

| RD2-score3= 22

| RD2-seed4= 4

| RD2-team4= {{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|15}} Sunshine Coast

| RD2-score4= 26

| RD3-seed1= 2

| RD3-team1= {{leagueicon|Redcliffe|15}} Redcliffe

| RD3-score1= 8

| RD3-seed2= 4

| RD3-team2= {{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|15}} Sunshine Coast

| RD3-score2= 34

| RD4-seed1= 1

| RD4-team1= {{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|15}} PNG Hunters

| RD4-score1= 12

| RD4-seed2= 4

| RD4-team2= {{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|15}} Sunshine Coast

| RD4-score2= 10

}}

{{rugbyleaguebox

|bg = #f1f5fc

|date = Sunday, 24 September

|time = 3:25pm (AEST)

|team1 = PNG Hunters {{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}}

|score = 12 – 10

|report = 1st: 0 - 10
2nd: 12 - 0
[https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/png-hunters-win-intrust-super-cup-grand-final-in-last-minute-20170924-p4yw3i.html Report]

|team2 = {{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|16}} Sunshine Coast Falcons

|points1 = Tries:
Watson Boas 1
Willie Minoga 1
Goals:
Ase Boas 2

|points2 = Tries:
1 Matt Soper-Lawler
1 Joe Stimson
Goals:
1 Joe Stimson

|stadium = Suncorp Stadium

|referee = Jarrod Cole, Nick Pelgrave

|attendance = 11,260

|manofmatch = Ase Boas (PNG Hunters)

}}

The PNG Hunters won their first minor premiership after finishing ahead of Redcliffe by a single point. After earning a bye in the first week of the finals, they defeated Redcliffe in the major semi final to qualify for their first Grand Final. Sunshine Coast had to earn their Grand Final spot the hard way, winning four straight games on route to the decider. In the first week, they eliminated Souths Logan and then upset the third-placed Easts Tigers in the semi-finals and the second-placed Dolphins in the preliminary final to qualify for their second Grand Final.

The Sunshine Coast stunned the Hunters early in the first half, with winger Matt Soper-Lawler scoring in just the 2nd minute as the Falcons hunted another finals upset. Five minutes later they scored their second try when second rower Joe Stimson crossed in the 7th minute. That would be the end of the first half scoring, with the Hunters getting close to getting their first try in the 15th minute but were ruled back for a forward pass.

It took the Hunters just two minutes to record their first points of the game when halfback Watson Boas scored after a deflected kick and an error from the Falcons. The scoreline remained unchanged for the next 36 minutes as neither side could crack the others defence. Finally, in the 79th minute, Hunters' forward Willie Minoga became his side's hero, as he dived onto an Ase Boas' grubber to score the try that levelled the scores. After consulting with the video referee, the try was awarded and Ase Boas kicked the game-winning conversion from right in front to give the Hunters their first ever Queensland Cup premiership.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/XPs1s9oufXs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200301193429/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPs1s9oufXs Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPs1s9oufXs| title = 2017 QLD Cup Grand Final PNG 12 v Sunshine Coast 10 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Hunters' captain Ase Boas was awarded the Duncan Hall Medal for man of the match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/png-captain-s-inspiring-qcup-season|title=PNG captain's inspiring QCup season}}

{{see also|2017 NRL Grand Final#NRL State Championship}}

After winning the Grand Final, the PNG Hunters qualified for the NRL State Championship on NRL Grand Final day. They were defeated by the Penrith Panthers, the New South Wales Cup premiers, 18–42.{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-grand-final-2017-penrith-panthers-far-too-strong-for-png-hunters-in-state-championship-20171001-gys7zm.html| title = NRL grand final 2017: Penrith Panthers far too strong for PNG Hunters in State Championship| date = October 2017}}{{Rugbyleaguebox|time=3:40pm (AEDT)|date=Sunday, 1 October|bg=#eeeeee|team1=Penrith Panthers {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}}|team2={{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}} Papua New Guinea Hunters|score=42 – 18|attendance=|stadium=ANZ Stadium, Sydney|points1=Tries:
Tony Satini (9', 11', 16', 40') 4
Darren Nicholls (20') 1
Viliame Kikau (31') 1
Christian Crichton (38') 1
Maika Sivo (47') 1
Goals:
Darren Nicholls 5/8
(13', 17', 22', 34', 39')
Sin Bin:
Jarome Luai (68')|report=1st: 38 – 2
2nd: 4 – 16|points2=Tries:
1 (69') Adex Wera
1 (72') Bland Abavu
1 (77') Ase Boas
Goals:
3/4 Ase Boas
(3' pen, 70', 77')|manofmatch=|referee=Jarrod Cole, Chris Treneman
Man-of-the-Match medal: {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Kaide Ellis}}

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of the season (including finals).{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/stats/?competition=114&season=2017|title=Stats}}

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{{Col-end}}

• Courier Mail Medal (Best and Fairest): Ase Boas ({{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}} PNG Hunters)
• Coach of the Year: Michael Marum ({{leagueicon|Redcliffe|16}} Redcliffe Dolphins)
• Rookie of the Year: Brandon Smith ({{leagueicon|Sunshine Coast|16}} Sunshine Coast Falcons)
• Representative Player of the Year: Nick Slyney ({{flagicon|Queensland|16}} Queensland Residents, {{leagueicon|Redcliffe|16}} Redcliffe Dolphins)
• XXXX People's Choice Award: Ase Boas ({{leagueicon|PNG Hunters|16}} PNG Hunters)

{{Portal|Queensland|Sports}}

• Queensland Cup
• Queensland Rugby League

{{Reflist}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Queensland Cup}}

{{Rugby League in Queensland}}

{{Papua New Guinea Hunters squad – 2017 Queensland Cup premiers}}

{{2017 in rugby league}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queensland Cup season 2017}}

Category:2017 in Australian rugby league

Category:Queensland Cup