Strong Australian PMs XIII side (NRL.COM)

The Australian PM`s 13 rugby team arrived in Port Moresby yesterday Captain Aaron Woods (left) , David Klemmer and James Tedesko

Mal Meninga has named six debutants as part of the Australian Prime Minister's XIII to take on Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's XIII in Port Moresby on Saturday 23 September.

Valentine Holmes, Andrew Fifita, Api Koroisau, Dylan Walker, Jack Bird and Paul Vaughan have traveled with the team that arrived on Thursday 21 September , with the match to be played at the National Football Stadium in the nation's capital on Saturday.

A further six players in the squad represented the Kangaroos in the ANZAC Test match earlier this year, with Tom Trbojevic the only player yet to have played a representative match at senior level.

With a little more than a month to go until the Rugby League World Cup, Meninga said the annual invitational match would be used as a genuine selection trial for players pushing for spots in the Kangaroos' World Cup squad.

"I'm absolutely delighted with this team. We've chosen the best available players in each position with fifteen of the eighteen players having represented their State already," Meninga said.

"To get these guys together so close to the Rugby League World Cup is a real coup for our preparations, which will really kick into gear following the NRL Grand Final.


"Some of them have been fortunate enough to have already experienced playing in PNG, but for the new guys, it really is something to cherish. There's nothing else quite like it.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone gels together in a short timeframe and handles the occasion."

Meninga also confirmed Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods would skipper the Prime Minister's XIII.

"Aaron has been a fantastic leader at club and state level for a number of years now and has fully earned this honour," Meninga said.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him lead from the front on Saturday week against an always tough, physical and entertaining Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's XIII team."

The Prime Minister's XIII will also be involved in a series of events alongside the Harvey Norman Jillaroos including community visits and coaching clinics while on the ground in Papua New Guinea and are supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Australian Prime Minister's XIII squad
1. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
2. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
3. Josh Dugan (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
4. Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
5. Valentine Holmes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)*
6. Jack Bird (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)*
7. James Maloney (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
8. Aaron Woods (c) (Wests Tigers)
9. Api Koroisau (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)*
10. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)*
11. Tyson Frizell (St George-Illawarra Dragons)
12. Jake Trbojevic (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
13 Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
14. David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
15. Dylan Walker (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)*
16. Josh Jackson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
17. Paul Vaughan (St George-Illawarra Dragons)*

PNG PMs XIII announce team (Post Courier 21/09/17)

The PNG Prime Ministers XIII for 2017

BY FIDELIS SUKINA

LAE Tigers captain Charlie Simon will captain the PNG Prime Ministers XIII side.

The PNG side will play the Australian PMs XIII team on Saturday 23 September 2017.

[Papua New Guinea Vice Minister for Sport and APEC Wesley Raminai made the announcement at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday.

Among the changes was the announcment of NRL contracted player Kato Ottio as replacment for Thimothy Lomai, who failed the medical test after sustaining a shoulder injury during the Digicel Cup Grand Final.

Coach Stranley Tepend said: “The selctors have done a good job and have given me a good side to work with.

“There are a few debutants but we also have some Hunters players to take teh lead with the core from the Digicel Cup,” he added.

He said it’s tough to prepare a side a short-notice, but if they get their mind-sets right anythng can happen on the day.

Aaron Woods captain of Australian PMs XIII coach, Coach Mal Meninga,
Steven Nightingale PNG PMs XIII coach captain Charlie Simon

PMs XIII assistant coach Steven Nightingale said they have drummed it into the players that it’s all about rugby, business on the field first and worry about who they are after the game.

“We have belief in the players.

“If they (Australians) don’t have the ball they can’t score points… we just have to do our part and complete our sets and put the ball down in their half,” Nightingale said.

He added that the team has a lot to prove especially with a lot of negative talk on social media.

The PNG PM’s side is sponsored by the National Gaming Board of Control.

The PM’s 13 team



1. Joe Joshua – Tigers (fullback)

2. Brendon Gutano – Vipers (Wing)

3. Stanford Talita – Wigmen (Center)

4. Junior Rau – Wigmen (Center)

5. Karo Kauna Jnr – Hunters (Wing)

6. Jason Mission – Gurias (Five Eight)

7. Charilie Simon – Tigers (Half Back)

8. Junior Rop – Tigers (Prop)

9. Stanley Olo – Gurias (Dummy Half)

10. Dilbert Issac – Gurias (Prop)

11. Tuvi Lepan – Gurias (Second Row)

12. Kato Ottio-Mounties (Second Row)

13. John Andy – Tigers (Lock)

                    Reserves

14. Sailas Gahuna – Hunters

15. William Mone – Hunters

16. Eddie Daffa – Lahanis

17. Muka Peter Kulu – Hunters

18. Joshua Nane – Mioks

Australia Prime Ministers XIII arrive for annual clash (Post Courier 22/09/17)

The Australian PM`s 13 rugby team arriving in Port Moresby 

BY FIDELIS SUKINA

The Australian Prime Ministers XIII team arrived in what seemed to be a low key reception, but was still a mad rush by the public to get a glimpse of the NRL stars.
For most it’s probably the only chance they will get to see their stars as the team bus drove past and in less than a minute the crowd dispersed from the Airport.
Captain Aaron Woods described the experience as an experience that never ceases to amaze the visiting team.

Jack Bird (left) and Valentine Holmes

“I told the players it’s going to be hectic.
“I’ve been coming here for the past four years, but this time it was tamed a bit.
“Once the police escort went past the crowd were screaming and come along the side and tapped on the bus with the players taking videos.
“It’s unreal to be here and be able to wear the green and gold with pride up here and play Papua New Guinea,” Woods said.
Coach Mal Meninga didn’t hold back the team’s potential stating this was the best available team for them to bring over to PNG, adding that it was out of respect to their nation and to the Prime Ministers XIII concept.
“We brought our best side and the guys are really keen to play this Saturday with the hope of making the national side down the track.
“We treat this game with great importance as it’s an integral part of the Kangaroos selection.
“A good stepping stone for players to make it into the World Cup side,” Meninga added.
PNG Prime Ministers XIII assistant coach Steven Nightingale said that he has faith in the team to deliver a strong performance.
“This match is an opportunity to show case our local league at the Digicel Cup level, as we think it’s really strong.
“The more exposure the players get… the better for the Hunters and better for the Kumuls and the country as a whole,” Nightingale added.

Siblings take lead in Hunt ! (Post Courier 21/09/17)

 Stanton Albert (from left), Wellington Albert, Ase Boas and Watson Boas after training on Tuesday this week. Picture by SIMON KESLEP 

BY FIDELIS SUKINA

IT’S an advantage for the SP Hunters to have two sets of siblings on their team, both in key positions on the field.

The Albert brothers vice-captain Wellington and Stanton will be in the front-row, while in the halves will be the Boas brothers Watson and skipper Ase for this Sunday’s Intrust Super Cup (ISC) Grand Final against the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

If anything, having them out there together it just makes coach Michael Marum’s job easier.

With a simple game plan that has been the basis of the great form so far, the family connection actually narrows downs his instructions.

Instinctively the brothers will relate to each other as they will be their own worst critics if things don’t go as planned.

For the Albert brothers, they have virtually grabbed the number eight and 10 jerseys when the opportunity arose in their debut season together.

The double team act brought with them a bit of their Penrith Panthers culture have played a major part in the Hunters spine this season.

There’s no hard and fast rule as the duo know they will have the backs to the wall against a bigger Falcons outfit.

They are not big in size but they do make up for it with their heart as they prepare to grind away at every inch on Sunday.

Just so their stylish backs can look good as usual.

“I’m expecting a big game from them (Wellington and Stanton) as they set the pace going forward.

“They opening up the options for the Boas brothers and the number 9 (Wartovo Puara Jr) and if they run the right lines Bland (Abavu) and Stargroth (Amean) get to finish things off,” Marum said.

Ase chimed in to say that younger brother and half-back Watson is always there to calm the situation down when things aren’t going right.

“We have been playing together for a long time now since club football.

“We motivate and challenge each other at the same time.

“When I’m out of options I look to him to try something…it just comes naturally,” Ase said.

The band of four have been an important cog in the Hunters machinery this season and after three frustrating seasons they have a chance to rid themselves of that monkey of their backs and get themselves into the record books come Sunday evening.

Let the HUNT begin !

SP PNG Hunters through to Queensland Intrust Super Cup Grand Final (Post Courier 11/09/17)

BY FIDELIS SUKINA

Hunters celebrating Ase Boas try

The SP PNG Hunters have secured the first grand final spot of the 2017 Queensland Intrust Super Cup Competition after a huge defensive effort defeating the Red Cliff Dolphins 6-4.

It was too good to be true, with some of the Hunters players unable to hold back the emotions, players shedding tears of joy for the historic win.

A mountain of defense was thrown in front of the Dolphins which kept them try with the visitors only converting two penalties in the first half of the game.

Dolphin’s winger Jonus Pearson converting the first penalty in the 15th minute followed through by Hugh Prat converting the second penalty right on half time taking them to a 4-0 lead.


The Hunters scored the only try through captain Ase Boas in the 65th minute, after the teams defense forced two consecutive turnovers which led to an individual effort by Boas to break through two defenders to score the match winner.

The crowd held their own with the Hunters as they defended like their lives depended on it, protecting their two point lead in the last 15 minutes of the match to scrape through for the grand final in Brisbane Suncorp Stadium.

Stargroth Amean was solid in defense, with the Hunters holding their line on the edges, Bland Abavu and Butler Morris both held out the opposition on the right edge, where the Dolphins were looking to expose.

Hunters Karo Kauna Jnr hugging coach Micheal Marum who was all sm

They used their forwards with Prop Matthew Lodge trying his best to break through but the PNG team ganged up on their heavier opponents.

The game presented strong opposition by both teams with some handling errors but it was all physical in the middle as the tackles by the forwards kept the 14,000 plus home crowd on their feet until the final whistle.

Hunters coach Michael Marum commended the team’s defensive effort and their courage not to give up.

“The boys they never gave up and held on to the win the Dolphins came strong but we held out in the end.

We had the wind behind us in the second half so we needed to hold on to the ball told the team at half time to work on the defense which they held on to,” Marum said

The Hunters now await the result of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Redcliff Dolphins match this weekend, which will determine the Hunters grand final opponents.