Australian Prime Minister’s XIII squads announced for PNG match

September 13, 2023 10:48 am.by Staff Writer

Australia Men's Prime Ministers XIII

Leading up to the NRL grand final, its been announced that Cameron Murray, the captain of South Sydney Rabbitohs will be leading the Prime Ministers XIII in a match against the Papua New Guinea PMs XIII in Port Moresby.

This special squad is made up of players from teams that are no longer in the NRL finals.

It gives us some insight into what Australian coach Mal Meninga is thinking for future postseason Tests.

Interestingly, Cowboys star Valentine Holmes is not included in the lineup as he is currently under investigation by the NRL due to a social media post.The Australian squad consists of eight players from the 2022 World Cup winning Kangaroos squad, including Nicho Hynes, who sees this match as an opportunity to strengthen his case for national team selection.

With key Australian players like Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic sidelined due to injuries, there is potential for the Kangaroos to consider players from teams still competing in NRL finals like Penrith Panthers, the Brisbane Broncos, and the Melbourne Storm. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who supports having a PNG NRL team, has emphasized how important this match is for strengthening friendship and partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia. In addition to the men’s team, there will also be a women’s Prime Ministers XIII selected, which will provide opportunities for emerging NRLW players.

These matches hold meaning as they foster friendship and cooperation between both nations. After these exhibitions, the focus will shift to the Pacific Championship, which happens next month.

This combination of experience and young talent perfectly showcases Australia’s dedication to the region’s rugby league growth.