International: Prime Minister's XIII vs PNG Kumuls

[DIEHARD]

Prime Minister's XIII vs PNG Kumuls
September 25 2011 - PNG

[DIEHARD]

Bird keen to fill Kangaroos void

GREG Bird says he would be a fool to waste a chance in the Prime Minister's XIII No.6 jumper after yesterday declaring he still had hopes of becoming retiring captain Darren Lockyer's Kangaroos successor.

Despite a difficult year, the Titans earned some consolation yesterday with Bird and Preston Campbell earning a place in the PM's XIII to tackle Papua New Guinea on September 25.

While Campbell's selection was the fitting reward for an illustrious 14-year career, Bird's inclusion was a chance to further push his claims for a spot in the Kangaroos' 24-man Four Nations squad.

The 27-year-old also hoped to use his selection to show he had the game to fill the void that was set to come with Lockyer's retirement at the end of the year.

And he was the man to last wear the No.6 in the absence of Lockyer, filling in at five-eighth at the end of 2007 and again in the Centenary Test of 2008.

"A few seasons back (five-eighth) was where I was progressing but even though since I've been back I've played predominantly in the backrow, I don't want to let the opportunity slip," Bird said yesterday. "It's a massive opportunity to hopefully impress (PM's XIII coach) Mal Meninga and the selectors for hopefully a start in that Four Nations because representing Australia is such an honour."

Making his fourth appearance for the PM's XIII, Bird's style has suited the representative arena with his instinctive nature providing an edge for the Kangaroos.

Stoked to have another game beside Campbell, Bird was just as excited to be calling the shots in the middle, outside gun Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce, a NSW teammate this season.

"I like playing five-eighth and I think (the position) suits my game at the representative level when the structures of the NRL are taken out of it," he said.

Campbell's selection capped an outstanding career and it will be the first green and gold jumper and just the fifth representative appearance -- he played twice with Country Origin, the 2008 Dream Team and 2009 Indigenous All Stars -- of his career.

Meanwhile, Titans recruits Nate Myles and Luke Douglas also earned a call-up to the side to be captained by Eels tyro Nathan Hindmarsh.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au

[DIEHARD]

I really wish the PMXIII's was TELEVISED! Come on ARLC!!!! We are going into the Finals and trying to serve up two NRL Finals game to a starving Rugby League viewership used to EIGHT games! Get your house in order and make this an annual televised match. We want to see these exciting players.

What's more is that it makes sense for the ARLC to try and keep the supporters of clubs that didn't make the Finals engaged in the Rugby League season. Especially so they are switched on for the Four Nations, where traditionally the most passionate or active Kangaroos fans are those who have representatives or had just recently come out of the Finals.

[DIEHARD]

New faces in PMs 13 PM?s
The National

NORTH Queensland Cowboy?s inform five-eighth Ray Thompson has been named in the PNG PM?s XIII side to take on the Australian PM?s XIII next weekend in Lae.

Thompson believed to be from a mix parentage of Western province in PNG and Australia has been in great form and his call-up to represent PNG will be a bonus for him and his family.

Thompson is among 19 players, along with his Cowboys teammate James Segeyaro, announced by the PNGRFL selectors yesterday.

To add confidence and strength to the team, former coach Adrian Lam has been recalled to coach the team.

He will arrive in the country on Monday.

The team: David Mead (Gold Coast Titans), Elijah Riyong (Vipers), Chris Hogi (Lahanis), Richard Kambo (Wigmen), Albert Patak (Gurias), Dion Aiye (Eagles), Thompson (Cowboys), Gonzilla Urakusie (Lahanis), Segeyaro (North Queensland Cowboys), Rodney Pora (Eagles), David Loko (Mioks), Glen Nami (Lahanis), Paul Aiton (Cronulla Sharks), Charile Wabo (Muruks), Pidi Togap (Gurias), L****n Marabe (Wigmen), Sameul Sok (Wigmen), Jessie Joe Parker (Wigmen) and Joshia Abavu (Vipers).

Lam in an email to this paper yesterday said time was of the essence considering the team was to play in 10 days.

?Obviously more time would have been preferable but we will do our best,? Lam said.

He also confirmed that he would coach the Telikom PNG Kumuls to take on the Fiji Batis in Fiji next month.

Lam resigned as coach last year citing instability on the PNGRFL board but has returned after the Kumuls poor Four Nations last October.

?I am passionate about the Kumuls and the people of PNG.

? I have dedicated to making a difference to rugby league in the country and I will do whatever it takes to make us better and earn the respect we deserve from the other countries that we are a great rugby league playing country.

?Like all of PNG, I was sad and disappointed to see our performances last year in the Four Nations tournament after our build up over four years with a great squad and winning the Pacific Cup.

?I want to get us back to where we belong.

?It will take time once again to rebuild what we had, but I want to be here for the long haul over the next couple of years to achieve that,? Lam said.
?Considering we play in 12 days.

?Obviously the more time would have been preferable but we will do our best.?

Meanwhile, the Emerging Kumuls was also named yesterday.
They will take on a state side from Australia as the curtainraiser to the PM?s XIII match.

The emerging side: Michael Gawi (Tigers), Tiger Emere (Tigers), Thompson Teteh (Lahanis), Jack Marcus (Gurias), Sebulon Ragi Junior (Vipers), Bobby Mori (Vipers), Noel Joel (Vipers), Junior Pangogo ( Gurias), Sebastian Pandia (Vipers), Henry Wan (Eagles), Mark Mexico (Tigers), Sonny Daing (Warriors), Sydney Fred (Tigers), Elvis Dick (Lahanis), Whelma Jerrick (Wigmen) and Spiro Mikaive ( Lahanis).

The team will be coached by Peter Danga assisted by Viper?s Shane Morris.
Jason Tassel is the head trainer while the team manager will be Kera Ngaffin.
Chairman of selectors Arnold Krewanty said selection was still open and players not in the squad could still force their way in.

Numapo said there was still room for players on the fringe of selection to break into the team.

He said the selectors would consider the emerging players.
However it is believed that bulk of the players will come from the current PM?s XIII squad.

[Chaos]

Where did the Prime Ministers XIII originate from?

Did Gillard really choose the side?

Why XIII...when 17 players will take the field?

[DIEHARD]

It's like First XI or First XV at school.

There isn't much of a connection to the Prime Minister. But there should be.

It's selected by the ARL. They are much like the Emus. They are like Australia A or the England Knights RL.

Not sure about the history, but might be one for Middleton or Sean ***en.

Id love to see other aussie teams get a great profile under the ARLC. Emus, PM's XIII, Emus, Schoolboys, Jillaroos etc.

[Chaos]

It's like First XI or First XV at school.

There isn't much of a connection to the Prime Minister. But there should be.

It's selected by the ARL. They are much like the Emus. They are like Australia A or the England Knights RL.

yeah...well...sounds like silly name without much thought gone into it

[DIEHARD]

Doesnt cricket have a cricket PM's XI?

[Chaos]

Doesnt cricket have a cricket PM's XI?

Yeah...but at least they actually play with 11 players and I'm sure our ex Prime Minister would have liked to contribute to the selection.

I can't see Gillard getting involved in either sport.

[DIEHARD]

Well when KRudd comes back, I'll do my best to get him involved.

Shamefully I run his supporters group - http://www.facebook.com/ruddfactor

[Steelers]

Doesnt cricket have a cricket PM's XI?

Yes, and the game is played in Canberra.

[thelwall]

diehard did you jsut say you run that group ?

[DIEHARD]

diehard did you jsut say you run that group ?

Yea I do mate. I'm quite the supporter of KRudd. And it's a bit of fun in a depressing political climate.

[DIEHARD]

Mead hoping to be fit for PNG
Adam Gardini

Jetstar Titans try scoring matchine David Mead will be given until the eleventh hour to prove his fitness in the hope of taking on Gold Coast teammate Greg Bird in Sunday?s Prime Minister?s XIII clash with Papua New Guinea in Lae.

Mead has been battling a hamstring injury since the Jetstar Titans final match of the year against the Eels several weeks ago and will be given until Papua New Guinea?s final training session on Saturday to prove his fitness.

If given the green light, it will mark Mead?s sixth representative match for the Kumuls after being named at fullback in a PNG squad which also includes fellow NRL players Ray Thompson (North Queensland Cowboys), James Segeyaro (North Queensland Cowboys) and Paul Aiton (Cronulla Sharks).

The Kumuls will be coached by former Roosters and Queensland State of Origin representative Adrian Lam.

Bird has been named to play five-eighth as the lone Jetstar Titans representative in the Prime Minister?s XIII squad, following the withdrawals of injured Titans duo Preston Campbell (hamstring) and Ashley Harrison (shoulder).

The PM?s XIII squad also features incoming Jetstar Titans recruits Nate Myles and Luke Douglas.

The PM?s XIII squad travelled to Cairns today where they are conducting a signing session with the Cairns Junior Rugby League before transferring to PNG tomorrow.

The match will be played at 3pm (PNG) time on Sunday.

Both squads are listed below.

PRIME MINISTER?S XIII: Matthew Bowen (North Queensland Cowboys), Blake Ferguson (Canberra Raiders), Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers), Josh Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Nathan Merritt (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans), Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters), David Shillington (Canberra Raiders), Jake Friend (Sydney Roosters), Tim Mannah (Parramatta Eels), Michael Crocker (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Nathan Hindmarsh (C) (Parramatta Eels), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tim Grant (Penrith Panthers), Luke Douglas (Cronulla Sharks), Ben Barba (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Luke Burt (Parramatta Eels).

PNG SQUAD: David Mead (Gold Coast Titans), Elijah Riyong (Vipers), Chris Hogi (Lahanis), Richard Kambo (Wigmen), Albert Patak (Gurias), Dion Aiye (Eagles), Ray Thompson (North Queensland Cowboys), Gonzilla Urakusie (Lahanis), James Segeyaro (North Queensland Cowboys), Rodney Pora (Eagles), David Loko (Mioks), Glen Nami (Lahanis), Paul Aiton (Cronulla Sharks), Charile Wabo (Muruks), Pidi Togap (Gurias), L****n Marabe (Wigmen), Sameul Sok (Wigmen), Jessie Joe Parker (Wigmen) and Joshia Abavu (Vipers).

Source: http://www.titans.com.au

[DIEHARD]

PM's XIII beat PNG in rugby league clash

The Australian Prime Minister's XIII took down a wily Papua New Guinea 36-22 on Sunday, in a rugby league encounter dominated by big hits on field and gunfire outside the Lae stadium.

The tone was set early when the home side responded to an early try to Canterbury NRL flyer Josh Morris by zeroing in with a series of huge hits in defence.

The Kumuls maintained the intensity in front of an estimated crowd of 15,000 packed into Lae's 2000-seat oval.

Canberra's Blake Ferguson also scored for the Prime Minister's XIII but, with a halftime lead of just 12-0, the Kumuls weren't without hope.

However, the Australians kicked away shortly after the break.

Ferguson bagged a double and, undeterred by sounds of gunfire outside the stadium as police battled to control some 7000 people who had missed out on a ticket, Parramatta's Luke Burt scored and converted his own try.

A runaway effort by South Sydney flyer Nathan Merritt and a token conversion by fan favourite and captain Nathan Hindmarsh put the PM's XIII comfortably ahead 30-0, before the locals started to rally.

Australian players are idolised in PNG, the only country in the world with rugby league as the national sport.

But sensing the growing disapproval and agitation in the bleachers at the lopsided scoreline, the Kumuls' attack hit back with three quick-fire tries, the first scored after 50 minutes by Dion Aiye.

With each roar of approval from the stands, rocks were thrown over the fence and onto the field by the angry fans outside.

This was answered by a rapid series of gunshots.

Morris kept his cool, completing a double and scoring Australia's final try, which was converted by another unlikely candidate in Souths' captain Michael Crocker.

Papua New Guinea finished on a high however, when Joshaia Abavu made a last-second dash from halfway to score the Kumuls' fourth try and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Hindmarsh said the game went as expected.

"Always big hits when we're in Papua New Guinea playing against the Kumuls, but we knew that coming into the game," Hindmarsh said.

"They're known as big hitters. Our front row and our forwards handled that very well.

"The gunshots weren't too bad, it was the rocks on the field that worried us more."

Kumuls captain and Cronulla hooker Paul Aiton was very happy with the result.

"This is a stepping stone," he said.

"We're building to the World Cup. I'm pretty proud of the boys."

http://www.nrl.com