Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's XIII, or sometimes informally referred to as the PNG PM's XIII, is the name of a representative rugby league team, comprising Papua New Guinean players from the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League, PNG Hunters and other overseas clubs. The team is selected to play an annual fixture against Australian Prime Minister's XIII in Papua New Guinea in the final weeks of the rugby league season.
History The PNG Prime Minister's XIII first played against their Australian counterparts in 2005 at Lloyd Robson Oval in the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby. The team was coached in that match by former national team head coach Bob Bennett. The side has also been coached by former Papua New Guinean internationals Adrian Lam and Stanley Gene and is currently coached by Michael Marum, who played for the team in 2005.
Originally played in Port Moresby, in recent years the games have been held in various locations around Papua New Guinea, including Lae and Kokopo. Unlike regular international matches, each team is allowed a five-man bench and given unlimited interchanges throughout the match.
Originally, the team was made up of players predominantly from the local Papua New Guinea National Rugby League competition. In recent years, players from the National Rugby League, Intrust Super Cup and English Championship have also been selected.
The match is also used to promote rugby league, as well as humanitarian causes such as HIV and AIDS awareness, among the Papua New Guinean community.
The PNG PM's XIII has never won a match against Australia since the annual fixture commenced, but managed a 24–24 draw in 2007, after trailing 20–0 at half time. In 2019, the PNG PM's XIII did not play the Australian side, who instead faced the Fiji Prime Minister's XIII.
Current squad Men The team for the match on 3 October 2025 was initially announced on social media on 6 October 2025. The NRL later posted the team.
Tallies in the table include the 2026 match.
J# Player Age Position(s) PM's XIII Tests Club Club Matches Other Reps 1 27 3 0 0 0 0 0 Hunters 16 0 64 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 ENB Agmark Gurias 20 0 0 20 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kandes RLC 20 0 0 20 4 30 2 1 0 0 4 0 Clydesdales 19 0 46 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hunters 18 0 18 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mendi Muruks 11 0 0 11 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mendi Muruks 19 0 0 19 8 28 2 0 0 0 0 0 Mt Hagen Eagles 16 0 56 16 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 ENB Agmark Gurias 18 0 0 18 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hela Wigmen 0 0 Yes 11 2 0 0 0 0 0 Hunters 19 0 40 0 12 22 2 0 0 0 0 0 Knights 19 0 23 0 13 31 4 0 0 0 0 3 Hunters 19 0 125 0 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kandes RLC 13 0 0 13 15 26 2 0 0 0 0 3 Hunters 6 0 35 0 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mendi Muruks 18 0 0 18 17 26 4 1 0 0 4 9 Hunters 8 0 56 0 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 Hela Wigmen 17 0 0 17 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 Enga Mioks 17 0 0 17 20 1 1 1 0 6 0 Port Moresby Vipers 19 0 0 19 Notes: The shading in the Clubs column of the above table indicates players selected from teams outside the 2026 NRL season Second Tier Papua New Guinea Hunters (6): Alu, Bandi, Bawase, Connors, Namo, Wabo Western Clydesdales (1): Talita. Third Tier ENB Agmark Gurias (2): Alfred, Benjamin. Hela Wigmen (2): Kuman, Turi. Kandes RLC (2): Nuampo, Tandoa. Mendi Muruks (3): Ario, Sam, Tapako. Mt Hagen Eagles (1): Pat. Port Moresby Vipers (1): Ben.
Women The team for the match on 3 October 2026 was announced on social media on 24 September 2026. The NRL later posted the team.
Tallies in the table include the 2026 match.
J# Player Age Position(s) PM's XIII TestMatches Club Other Reps 1 Anika Butler 26 2 4 0 0 0 0 Maitland Pickers 2 Ivania Wong 1 0 0 0 0 0 ACT Brumbies (Union) 3 Joyce Hobert 1 0 0 0 0 0 Port Moresby Vipers 4 Ruth Gende 2 2 0 0 0 0 Port Moresby Vipers 5 Jacinta Gerry 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mt Hagen Eagles 6 Gemma Schnaubelt 28 1 0 0 1 0 2 Clydesdales 7 Ua Ravu 29 3 9 1 0 0 4 Rabbitohs 8 Jenny David 1 0 0 0 0 0 Tigers 9 Josephine Howard 2 0 1 0 0 4 Central Dabaris 10 Gian Kaupa 1 0 0 0 0 0 Lae Tigers 11 Doreen William 1 0 0 0 0 0 Lae Tigers 12 Belinda Gwasamun 4 12 0 0 0 0 Mt Hagen Eagles 13 Jafinda Sap 1 0 0 0 0 0 Central Dabaris 14 Lilah Malabag 4 7 0 0 0 0 Port Moresby Vipers 15 Cynthiah Peters 1 0 0 0 0 0 ENB Gurias 16 Mala Mark 5 3 0 0 0 0 Central Dabaris 17 Alice Alois 1 0 0 0 0 0 Port Moresby Vipers 18 Mya Muller 1 1 0 0 0 0 Panthers 19 Sareka Mooka 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 Cutters 20 Sherinda Philip 1 0 0 0 0 0 Central Dabaris
Results 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2022
2023
Players
Captains Keith Peters (2006–2007, 2009) Stanley Gene (2008) Paul Aiton (2010–2011) Charlie Wabo (2013) Israel Eliab (2014) Albert Patak (2015) Ase Boas (2016) Charlie Simon (2017) David Mead (2018) Wartovo Puara (2022) Kyle Laybutt (2023) Judah Rimbu (2024) Nene Macdonald (2025)
Coaches Bob Bennett (2005) Adrian Lam (2006–2009, 2011–2013) Stanley Gene (2010) Michael Marum (2014, 2016, 2018) Mal Meninga (2014) Stanley Tepend (2015, 2017, 2022) Justin Holbrook (2023) Jason Demetriou (2024–2025)
Records Individual Most games 8 Rodney Pora (2005–2012) 7 Paul Aiton (2006–2008, 2010–2011, 2013) 7 Jessie Joe Nandye (2005, 2007–2011, 2013) 7 Charlie Wabo (2005, 2007–2008, 2010–2013) 6 Larsen Marabe (2008–2013) Most tries 3 Nickson Kolo 3 Jessie Joe Nandye 3 Menzie Yere Most points 16 Glen Nami 12 Nickson Kolo 12 Jessie Joe Nandye 12 Menzie Yere Most tries in a match 2 Tom O'Reilly (2006) 2 Stanley Gene (2008) 2 Menzie Yere (2008) 2 Nickson Kolo (2010) 2 Thompson Teteh (2014) Most points in a match 10 Rhyse Martin (2018)
See also
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
References