Australian PM XIII vs PNG Kumuls

[DIEHARD]

PNG name side to take on PM XIII

Players from the elite national competition in Papua New Guinea, the Digicel Cup, have dominated the PNG Prime Ministers XIII side that will take on the Australian Prime Ministers XIII this Sunday at Lloyd Robson Oval.

In front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd at the recently renovated venue, PNG coach Adrian Lam, will be looking to use the match to help build depth as the nation looks to prepare for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister?s XIII
Josiah Abavu (Vipers), Mathew Puke (Muruks), Richard Kambo (Vipers), Jason Tali (Eagles), Albert Patak (Guria), Dion Aiye (Guria), Israel Eliab (Vipers), Rodney Pora (Guria), Charlie Wabo (Muruks), Gonzella Urakusie (Lahanis), David Loko (Mioks), Mark Mexico (Tigers); Glen Nami (Lahanis); Interchange: Wesley Mohokule (Lahanis), Larson Marabe (Gurias), Enoch Maki (Muruks), Wartovo Puara Jr (Guria); Essau Siune (Lions)

Previous Results:
2011: Australia PM XIII 36 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 22
2010: Australia PM XIII 30 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 18
2009: Australia PM XIII 42 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 18
2008: Australia PM XIII 54 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 30
2007: Australia PM XIII 24 drew with Papua New Guinea PM XIII 24
2006: Australia PM XIII 28 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 8
2003: Australia PM XIII 32 d. Papua New Guinea PM XIII 0

http://www.nrl.com

[DIEHARD]

Prince should be in rep mix - Meninga

If Scott Prince somehow doesn't feel special when he leads out the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday, Mal Meninga's glowing assessment of the veteran will do the trick.

Prince, 32, played the last of his four Tests and five State of Origins four years ago.

And he seemed resigned to it staying that way due to Queensland halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk's dominance despite a form resurgence for the Gold Coast Titans in 2012.

But Queensland and PM's XIII coach Meninga said the re-born halfback should not be ruled out of representative contention.

"He always said `any chance to put on the green and gold is a fantastic privilege' and he has grabbed this with both hands," Meninga told AAP of the PM's XIII captain Prince.

"But I think he is on the fringe of making the Aussie side if anything happens (injury-wise) to JT (Thurston) or Cooper.

"He understands he is on the fringe. A good performance (on Sunday) will keep him in the selectors' mind (ahead of next month's trans-Tasman Test).

"I don't think he is out of the picture representative-wise."

Not that Prince could feel anything but inspired running out for the PM's XIII.

Asked how NRL players were treated in PNG, the only country where rugby league is the national sport, Meninga said: "It's superstar status, like Will and Kate going to the Pacific Islands. They worship them.

"They understand everything about them. They know their names, their families, how many kids they've got, what junior club they played for.

"It is a privilege and honour to go up there."

And that's just their arrival in PNG.

Playing at Lloyd Robson Oval is another experience entirely.

"It caters for about 10,000 but there would be 10,000 others in treetops, on the grandstand roof, on houses, on barbed wire fences just to watch the game," Meninga said.

"Then there would be a similar amount outside that fence trying to listen or get an idea of the game.

"It's just extraordinary."

But Meninga knows the love-in will end on the field as an Adrian Lam-coached PNG side makes up for time lost due to political strife ahead of next year's World Cup.

"It's important to them, it's their No.1 sport and there is a World Cup coming up next year," Meninga said.

"So this is their chance to get back on the horse and impress Adrian Lam before next year."

Centre Jason Tali - one of six debutants under skipper Glen Nami - gave an idea of what the NRL players could expect.

"I don't care if they break my bone (sic) or not," Tali told the PNG Post-Courier newspaper on Friday.

"This is the only chance I will have to prove my (World Cup) selection and I must stand and fight hard."

The team's visit also promotes causes such as AIDS awareness among the PNG community.

The PM's XIII have not lost to PNG since their annual clashes began in 2005 but were held to a 24-24 draw in 2007.

http://www.nrl.com/

[Titanic]

I hope our scouts are up there or at least Prince keeps his eyes open.

[DIEHARD]

FULLTIME: Australian Prime Minister's XIII 24 beat Papua New Guinea 18 at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby.

Aussie try scorers were Mateo, Jennings, Ryan and Uate.

Pic: Twitter @liamfoxpng

[DIEHARD]

Uate strikes late as PM's XIII stuns the Kumuls

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 18 AUSTRALIAN PM'S XIII 24

A last minute try to Akuila Uate has given the Australian Prime Minister?s XIII team a 24-18 victory over Papua New Guinea at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby.

Locked at 18-all after 79 minutes, a crossfield kick by five-eighth Lachlan Coote saw Uate and a Kumuls player leap high for the ball. The ball was knocked to the ground before Uate reached out to get his hand on the ball to score. Captain and half-back Scott Prince converted the try to seal victory for Australia.

In a match played in very humid conditions in front of a crowd of around 16,000 passionate rugby league fans, the Kumuls were courageous in defeat after overcoming a 12-0 deficit midway through the first half.

The Kumuls side had no overseas-based players with the current squad selected from the local Digicel semi-professional competition but what they lacked in experience they made up for in determination, taking the game to their more classier and skilful opponents to the very end.

Papua New Guinea started the game strongly with the Australians under heavy defensive pressure for the opening eight minutes. Poor hands cost the Kumuls two trycoring opportunities early on.

Australian centre Chris Lawrence left the field after three minutes with concussion after copping a heavy knock in defending their tryline. He returned to the field 10 minutes later after being cleared by medical staff but only lasted an extra two minutes before playing no further part in the game.

Australia opened the scoring in the 10th minute through a try to second-rower Feleti Mateo after he swooped on a grubber kick by Prince. The half-back converted from next to the posts for a 6-0 lead.

Three minutes later, Coote and lock Wade Graham combined to send centre Michael Jennings on a 60 metre run to score under the posts. Prince converted for a 12-0 lead.

The Kumuls celebrated their first try in the 21st minute when quick hands through the backline saw winger Matthew Puke dive over in the right corner. Half-back Israel Eliab failed to convert from the sideline for a 12-4 scoreline.

Australia extended their lead to 16-4 when winger Beau Ryan crossed in the 36th minute after Mateo busted the line to link up with Jennings. The centre drew in full-back Josiah Abavu to send Ryan over behind the posts. Ryan celebrated his debut try for his country with his now famous ?Doggies? act much to the huge roar of the crowd. Prince converted the try to give Australia an 18-4 lead at half-time.

Papua New Guinea got off to a perfect start in the second half when a crossfield kick by Eliab saw the ball bounce for winger Albert Patak to regather to score in the left corner in the 47th minute. Eliab failed to convert from the sideline to leave the home side trailing 18-8.

The Kumuls then had a try disallowed by Australian referee Phil Haines in the 51st minute after he ruled a Papua New Guinea player had knocked the ball forward from a spilt bomb by Australian full-back Darius Boyd.

A few minutes later, Boyd pulled off a trysaving tackle on second-rower David Loko 10 metres out from his line.

Loko did manage to cross the tryline in the 65th minute after Australia allowed the ball to bounce from a bomb into the arms of the Kumuls. Quick hands to the right saw Loko score out wide. Eliab converted from the sideline for an 18-14 scoreline.

The home side then sent their fans into a frenzy when they spread the ball right before centre Richard Kambo used his strength and speed to crash over out wide for an 18-all scoreline. Eliab failed to convert the try with seven minutes remaining.

Papua New Guinea threw everything at Australia in the final minutes as they searched for an historic victory.

Just when it seemed the match was heading for a draw after Graham was held up over the line on the play before, Coote produced his crossfield kick in the 79thminute for Uate to score for a 22-18 lead. Prince converted to give Australia a hard fought 24-18 victory.

AUSTRALIAN PM'S XIII 24 (Feleti Mateo, Michael Jennings, Beau Ryan, Akuila Uate tries; Scott Prince 4 goals) def PAPUA NEW GUINEA 18 (Matthew Puke, Albert Patak, David Loko, Richard Kambo tries; Israel Eliab goal) at Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby, September 23, 2012. Referee: Phil Haines. Goal-kicking: Scott Prince 4 from 4, Israel Eliab 1 from 4.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/

[TITAN PETE]

What a shame that this match is never televised , can't understand why, people would watch it & it would gives us the chance to see some of what the Kumuls have to offer the NRL.

[DIEHARD]

What a shame that this match is never televised , can't understand why, people would watch it & it would gives us the chance to see some of what the Kumuls have to offer the NRL.

I agree Pete.

Two things our sport needs to do.

1. Have the annual PM XIII game as part of the broadcast schedule. We are starving for footy this time of year, with the Finals there is less NRL product. So let's fill the gap. It's a quality side made up of players not competing in the NRL Finals. This will also have the benefit of maintaining interest in Rugby League of fans whose teams have not qualified or been knocked out.

2. Enter a PNG team in the Queensland Cup ALREADY!!!!