LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Papua New Guinea has officially announced the men's and women's teams for the upcoming Prime Minister's XIII matches scheduled for this Sunday against Australia in Port Moresby.
This annual exhibition provides Papua New Guinea players with a chance to compete against some of the top talent from the NRL, serving as an excellent lead-up to the 2025 Pacific Championships, where they will face both the Cook Islands and Fiji.
The men's squad features a blend of seasoned professionals and newcomers, with Nene Macdonald and Jack de Belin being the most experienced players. Young talents such as Cooper Bai and Morea Morea are also set to make an impact.
On the women's side, the team showcases key NRLW players like Fleur Finn, Elise Albert, and Essay Banu. Additionally, the presence of 36-year-old Therese Aiton adds valuable experience to the squad.
Men's Squad:
1. Nene Macdonald
2. Robert Derby
3. Robert Mathias
4. Alex Max
5. Dudley Dotoi
6. Finley Glare
7. Kyle Laybutt
8. Epel Kapinias
9. Liam Horne
10. Sylvester Namo
11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
12. Nixon Putt
13. Jack de Belin
Interchange:
14. Judah Rimbu
15. Cooper Bai
16. Ila Alu
17. Valentine Richard
Reserves:
18. Jacob Tulani
19. Morea Morea
20. Gairo Varo