Squads have been announced for the PNG Kumuls v Prime Ministers XIII match in Port Moresby on October 6 in Port Moresby, and looking through the squads the Kumuls must be quietly confident of giving the Australians a very hard time, and whisper it, beating the Australian side.
The Australians have an infinitely larger pool of players to choose from, but have selected players from the Intrust Super competitions, meaning the usual gulf in experience between the two sides has been narrowed greatly.
We list the squads for the PNG Kumuls v Prime Ministers XIII match, and give a few points of views on the sides.
If you’re wondering, we’re calling a Kumuls win.
PNG Kumuls squad
Daniel Russell – South Logan Magpies (Intrust Super Cup)
David Mead – Catalans Dragons (Super League)
Edene Gabi – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Enock Maki – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
James Segeyaro – Cronulla Sharks (NRL)
Justin Olam – Melbourne Storm (NRL)
Kyle Laybutt – North Queensland Cowboys (NRL)
Lachlan Lam – Sydney Roosters
Moses Meninga – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Nene McDonald – St George Illawara (NRL)
Nixon Putt – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Rhadley Brawa – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Rhyse Martin – Canterbury Bulldogs (NRL)
Stanton Albert – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Tom Butterfield – Easts Tigers (Intrust Super Cup)
Watson Boas – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
Wellington Albert – Widnes Vikings (Super League
Willie Minoga – PNG Hunters (Intrust Super Cup)
PNG Kumuls Squad Thoughts
Firstly, always great to see our favourite Willie Minoga selected. It is another chance for him to show the rest of the rugby league world what we already know. He kicks arse.
A shame not to see Ase Boast teaming up with his brother one more time before they head for the UK. Who could blame them though with the lack of prospects in Australian rugby league / NRL for PNG players.
Looking forward to seeing Lachlam Lam get another go with the PNG side, after his sensational debut in the rugby league World Cup. The future of PNG rugby league is on show.
The Albert brothers ride again, and seeing the impact Stanton Albert had on his early return from the UK, we can only imagine Wellington is going even better. A great hope as he was looking quite god before he left.
Rhyse Martin is a player like so many others in Australian rugby league. Super talented, quality performer, but for so long we asked why on earth a player going so well couldn’t get an NRL gig. And still don’t. But his presence in this side will be a massive advantage, along with his outstanding goal kicking. Great to see him going so well in the NRL. Proving that these players in the Intrust Super competitions are capable if given the chance.
Prime Minsters XIII Squad
- Corey Allan (Broncos)
- Zac Lomax (Dragons)
- Jesse Ramien (Sharks)
- Brian Kelly (Sea Eagles)
- Nick Cotric (Raiders)
- Jake Clifford (Cowboys)
- Daly Cherry-Evans (c) (Sea Eagles)
- David Klemmer (Bulldogs)
- Ben Hunt (Dragons)
- Jordan McLean (Cowboys)
- Tyson Frizell (Dragons)
- Tyrone Peachey (Panthers)
- Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)
- Aaron Woods (Sharks)
- Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers)
- Matt Prior (Sharks)
- Chad Townsend (Sharks)
- Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos)
- Reece Robson (Dragons)
- Enari Tuala (Cowboys)’
Prime Minsters XIII Squad Thoughts
A scattering of big name NRL players in amongst some lesser known NRL talent, and the occasional bolter.
The Souths Logan Magpie connection of former Magpies great Mal Meninga must explain the selection of Corey Allen at fullback. Top players, and good enough for Souths to pick him up, but quite shock as the Australian number 1.
The back row of the Prime Ministers XIII looks particularly impressive with all three players involved in NSW’s State of Origin series victory, two of them were some of their best. But none of the trio are Willie Minoga. And Rhyse Martin is top quality, as has Nixon Putt been this season. A key battle.
The props are strong too, Klemmer loves the tough stuff, and he will need to up against the Kumuls.
Australia’s bench looks a little weak, except for the potential game breaker of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who we can see causing the Kumuls real problems with his aggressive style and height. Something the Kumuls lack in general.
Daly Cherry-Evans is a safe pair of hands at halfback, and Jake Clifford should be a little used to some of the Kumuls from his time with the Northern Pride this season. Ben Hunt has been chosen as number nine, and whether he likes it or not after Origin III, his new national position is hooker.
PNG Kumuls v Prime Ministers XIII Team v Team Advantages and Key Battles
PNG Kumuls
Willie Minoga – star of the game against Fiji, and a game breaker who has versatility. Bias we know, as a two time Person of the Year of this very website, but he can prove us wrong.
David Mead – for all the potential in Corey Allen, he is not currently a quality top level performer like David Mead. Mead was sensational in the Rugby League World Cup before injury, and has held his own in the UK Super LEague for Catalans this season.
Hooker – James Segeyaro and Tommy Butterfield are genuine number nines, and very fine ones at that. Tommy Butterfield showed his class and quality in a losing Easts Tigers side in last weekend’s Intrust Super Cup Grand Final. Look to the Australian side which has makeshift hooker Ben Hunt starting, and we guess a back up in another halfback Chad Townsend.
Centres – Presuming it is Nene McDonald and Justin Olam in the centres, we definitely think that the Kumuls combination is far superior to the Jesse Ramien / Brian Kelly offering. Olam has been demanding selection for the Storm this season with his fine form for the Sunshine Coast, and was great in the test against Fiji. McDonald has been a powerhouse for the Dragons. Some could argue that the Australian offer a little more, we don’t and the PNG pair have the advantage of playing together previously.
Australian Prime Minsiters XIII
The Back Row – Players good enough to feature in NSW’s Origin winning series over Queensland is good enough reason for us to say it will be a match and more for the Kumuls back row. In saying that, Rhyse Martin and Nixon Putt are quality, if not as well known.
NRL experience – although NRL experience doesn’t mean anything, it is still a factor against the Kumuls who don’t have near as much.
Nic Cotric – the exciting Canberra winger could be one of those game breakers on the wing hat the Kumuls just don’t have.
Key Battles
Can the Albert bothers can on top of David Klemmer and Jordan McLean. They’ll certainly have the height advantage, but will they have the heart advantage.
Halves. DCE is the top quality player of the quartet but he will be playing with the slightly inexperienced Cowboy Jake Clifford. Not much NRL experience either for the Kumuls, but in Watson Boas and Lachlam Lam they have great potential and a good mix of experience.
Finally whether the advantage each side has over the other is greater.
Usually I’d tip the winnings over to the kangaroos but the squad is looking less potent this year. It’d be an interesting game.