Founded 2005 Head coach Mal Meninga | Captain Greg Inglis | |
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Governing body Australian Rugby League | ||
prime minister s xiii papua new guinea national rugby league
Prime Minister's XIII, or sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, is the name of a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs that did not qualify for the NRL Finals, or whose teams were knocked out during the first two weeks of the finals. The team is selected to play an annual fixture against Papua New Guinea in Papua New Guinea in the final weeks of the rugby league season.
Contents
History
The PM's XIII first played against Papua New Guinea in 2005 at Lloyd Robson Oval in the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby. The team was coached in that match by former Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga, who coached the side until 2012. The current coach of the side is New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley.
Originally played in Port Moresby, in recent years the games have been held in various locations around Papua New Guinea, including Lae and Kokopo. Unlike regular international matches, each team is allowed a five-man bench and given unlimited interchanges throughout the match.
Because the selected Australian players are not participating in the NRL finals (and are part of the Australian Test 'train-on' squad), the match is primarily used to keep potential international players match fit ahead of any end-of-season international fixtures. As the match has been played later in September, players who play for a team that has been knocked out in the first two weeks of the finals have been able to be selected for the side.
The match is also used to promote rugby league, as well as humanitarian causes such as HIV and AIDS awareness, among the Papua New Guinean community.
The PM's XIII has never lost a match against Papua New Guinea since the annual fixture commenced, but was held to a 24–24 draw in 2007, after leading 20–0 at half time.
Captains
Coaches
Team
- 58 points vs Papua New Guinea (58-0) at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 24 September 2016
- 40 points vs Papua New Guinea (50-10) at Kalabond Stadium, Kakopo, Papua New Guinea on 29 September 2013
- 34 points vs Papua New Guinea (34-0) at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 18 September 2005
- 28 points vs Papua New Guinea (40-12) at Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 26 September 2015
- 24 points vs Papua New Guinea (42-18) at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 27 September 2009
Individual
- Robbie Farah (5)
- Greg Bird (4)
- Michael Jennings (4)
- David Shillington (4)
- Jarryd Hayne (6)
- Michael Jennings (6)
- Chris Lawrence (5)
- Blake Ferguson (4)
- Josh Morris (4)
- Jarryd Hayne (24)
- Michael Jennings (24)
- Chris Lawrence (20)
- Mitchell Moses (20)
- Scott Prince (20)