The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team (nicknamed the Mosquitos () and for sponsorship purposes, the Telikom PNG Mosquitos) represents Papua New Guinea in the team sport of Australian rules football. It is one of the nation's most successful sporting teams, currently ranked 2nd in the world behind Australia.

The PNG Mosquitos are selected from the best born and raised male players from the clubs and teams of Papua New Guinea. Formed in the 1960s to participate in tests against popular teams from Australia, PNG debuted internationally in 1976 against Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby which it won convincingly. It has a strong rivalry with Indigenous Australian teams, defeating them in the majority of their rare encounters including 1973, 1974 and 2009. It has remained a dominant international side, becoming the most decorated nation in international Australian Football, having won the most Australian Football International Cup titles (3 - 2008, 2014, 2017) and five medals including 3 silver medals (2002, 2005, 2011), featuring in every Grand Final since the inaugural tournament in 2002, as well as winning three gold medals at the Arafura Games.

Identity The team's nickname is the Mosquitos or "Mozzies" (aka Binatangs – local PNG name for small insects, similar to a mosquito). The moniker was formally adopted in 1993.Mosquitos launched PNG Post-Courier Fri 3 Sep 1993 Page 20

The Mosquito's guernsey has the kumul (raggiana bird-of-paradise), a national symbol of PNG (and element of the national flag of Papua New Guinea), in the national colours of red, black and yellow.

Prior to each match, the Mosquitos perform the 'Ole Ole' war dance ().

History

Prior to the independence of Papua New Guinea, various representative sides were assembled. The earliest, in 1956 representing Papua travelled to Australia and defeated regional representative Queensland sides from both Cairns and Innisfail.

In the late 60s and early 1970s, Australian clubs began to notice the rapid growth of the game in PNG and toured to compete against selections of local players but it wasn't until 1973 that the national team first began to form, mainly to tour Australia to play against indigenous sides.Rules Side Named. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier2 Oct 1973 Page 20 SPORT

As part of the celebrations for independence in 1975 the first full international test played between the national sides of Papua New Guinea and Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby was won by PNG by 129 points. Despite significant planning, a reciprocal tour to Nauru planned for 1978 did not eventuate. One of the biggest challenges for the national team was that many of its best players were outside of Port Moresby (some of the strongest leagues were in the north, the highlands and New Britain) and lacked a means to travel to train and play in the team, let alone to fly overseas.

1977 saw Australian Under 17 squad tour Papua New Guinea, and the PNG team reciprocated in Adelaide, with Australia taking the honours in a close match.

In 1978 Australia's National Football League assumed control of the team and diverted all its funding to juniors and entered a side into the 1979 Teal Cup to create a talent pathway to VFL however the initiative was extremely unsuccessful with the Teal Cup team performing disastrously and no players recruited to the senior VFL. Due to no funding for senior international tests (PNG had to cancel its proposed 1979 tour of Nauru), it also caused the PNG government to withdraw all national funding for the sport. Following the withdrawal of the Australian administration and the collapse of the national competitions, an undermanned PNG team played mainly against teams mainly from Queensland.

In 1995 the Mosquitos competed internationally under the moniker of the Mosquitos at the Arafura Games in Darwin, Northern Territory. That year PNG won the gold medal of the International division defeating New Zealand. In the same competition, PNG also competed against sides from Nauru, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

In 1996 the Mosquitoes played a curtain raiser to an Australian Football League match in Perth overwhelmingly defeating the Central Desert Eagles.

In 1997, PNG successfully defended their Arafura Games title again defeating New Zealand.

In 1999 won the gold medal again at the games, once again defeating New Zealand in the final.

In 2000, the Mosquitoes were invited to play New Zealand in a curtain raiser to a pre-season AFL match in Wellington, but were unable to raise the funds required.

In 2002, Papua New Guinea competed in the International Cup in Melbourne. PNG went through the competition undefeated only to lose to Ireland in the Grand Final.

A minor setback to the representation of the Mosquitos was the cancellation of the 2003 Arafura Games due to SARS fears.

Prior to the 2005 International Cup, AFL legend Mal Michael offered to play for the PNG side, but was ruled ineligible by the AFL. Although he was born in PNG, he did not satisfy the criteria since he had moved to Australia at too young an age. Despite Michael not being involved in the side, he tipped PNG to win the competition, hailing the strong growth in the local competitions.

In the 2005 International Cup, PNG again went through the competition unbeaten only to lose the Grand Final to a much improved New Zealand national team. Papua New Guinea's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Navu Maha. Navu also won the award for the best player in the 2005 International Cup series and captained both the 2002 and 2005 teams.

In early 2008, the national team secured its first major sponsor – Telikom PNG – which helped to fund the junior squads competing in Australia and the senior squad's International Cup campaign.

In the 2008 International Cup, PNG, captained by Alister Sioni again went through the competition unbeaten, this time defeating New Zealand in a thriller. 2 points up at the final siren, 17-year-old Amua Pirika kicked a goal after the siren. Donald Barry was best on the ground in the Grand Final. Overa Gibson was best and fairest in the 2008 International Cup. 4 Mosquitos were named in the All-International team – Donald Barry, Overa Gibson, Joe Lla and Stanis Susuve.

A spin-off team, the PNG Maruks club, formed in 2019 to play under different eligibility criteria, won the Asian Australian Football Championships in 2019 in their debut year.PNG Claim Their First Champs – 2019 Asian Championships Division 1 Men's Results

International competition International Cup 2002: 2nd 2005: 2nd 2008: 1st 2011: 2nd 2014: 1st 2017: 1st

Arafura Games 1995: 1st 1997: 1st 1999: 1st 2001: Did not compete

Squad and Test history

1969 squad This squad was formed to compete against the VFL's visiting St Kilda Football Club which had finished 7/12 (outside finals) in the VFL.

Strong; Leitch; Bae; Pak; Mackinlay; Wiimot; Amini; Roge Iga; Sinari; Wastell; James; Vele; Peni; Ravu Ope; Pickering; Wapa; Bennett; Waea; Dobson; Bernard Mou; Radcliffe

+ Matches+YearDate OpponentResultStadiumCaptain (vice-captain)CoachBestCrowd 1969 8 October St Kilda Football Club Papua New Guinea 1-6 (12) def. by St Kilda Football Club 9-17 (71) Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby Max Bennett, (Vele Peni) Leo Leary, Max Bennett 5,000

1973/4 squad This squad defeated Indigenous Australia twice, once at Ainslie Oval in Canberra. The side was captained by cross-code footballer Joe Buboi who was also captain of the rugby league Kumuls.

Joe Buboi; Karo Vala; Vali Leka; Joe Pagleo; Bernard Mou; Michael Bai; Phillip George; Agarobe Tau; Boga TaliOur rules boys retain title. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 7 Oct 1974 Page 24PNG defeats Aborigines. The Canberra Times. 7 Oct 1974 Page 10

+ Matches+YearDate OpponentResultStadiumCaptain (vice-captain)CoachBestCrowd 1973 7 October Aboriginal Australia Papua New Guinea 17.19 (121) def Aboriginal Australia 12.18 (90) Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby Herea Amini, Jack Moffatt Philip George 6,000Good win to PNG in rules game. Papua New Guinea Post-Courie8 Oct 1973 Page 24Top umpire for match (5 October 1973). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 56. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251224878 1974 6 October Aboriginal Australia Aboriginal Australia 12.12 (84) def. by Papua New Guinea 11.13 (89) Ainslie Oval, Canberra

1975 (First National) squad Squad formed to tour Tasmania for an annual match against Aboriginal Australia but was cancelled due to no funding from Australia.

Veari Maha; S. Mairi; A. Leka; R. Ila; G. Guma; I. Ila; B. Leka; R. Leka (Koboni); B. Tali (Aviat); R. Iga; H. Tokapage; M. Tulungum (Port Moresby); E. Ragi (University); G. Nongkas (Elcom); M. Bai; R. Maisu (Defence Force); P. Waea; A. Tau; B. Kaiae; R. Aup; K. Vala (Lae); L. Au; H. Ofora (Bougainville); P. Amini (Madang); P. Aumi (Rabaul)

1976 squad This side was formed for the first true international against Nauru and to take the strongest club from Australia - 1975 VFL premiers and 1976 VFL Grand Finalist North Melbourne.

Veari Maha; Ian MacKinlay; Steven Kakot; Tiana Ila; Martin Tullungun; Gimana Gurna; Ereman Ragi; Vili Maha; Henry Aisapo; Phillip George; Raymond Maisu; Mea Vui; Michael Bai; Gerea Aopi; Mau Au; Pat Amini (Port Moresby); Peiwa Waea; Karo Vala; Barnabas Kaiei; Chris Bais (Lae); Peter Amini (Rabaul)Rules squad named. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 24 Sep 1976 Page 51

+ Matches+YearDate OpponentResultStadiumCaptain (vice-captain)CoachBestCrowd 1976 20 September Nauru Papua New Guinea def Nauru (final margin 129 points) Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby Pat Amini 10,000 1976 9 October North Melbourne Football Club Papua New Guinea 11-10 (76) def. by North Melbourne 18-12 (120) Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby Ereman Ragi 8,000NORTH TOO GOOD BUT PNG IMPRESS (11 October 1976). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 20. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250564136(11 October 1976). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 18. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page27775565

1977 squad P. Aumi; W. Gare; D. Haro; P. Pati; W. Maha (Port Moresby); R. Aup; P.Waea; C. Bais; Eomelus, K. Vala; C. Daun, (Lae), Y. Maha; B. Haile; G. Laka; A. Colombus; (Goroka); S. Lowa; B. Malagau; S. Akis; M. Tullungan (Rabaul); G. Vegogo; (Madang); B. Matuy; (Wewak);PNG rules side chosen. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 15 Jun 1977 Page 28

+ Matches+YearDate OpponentResultStadiumCaptain (vice-captain)CoachBestCrowd 1977 9 October Gold Coast Papua New Guinea 13-17 (95) def Gold Coast 9-8 (62) Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby Vili Maha

1980 squad Anis Tobata; Steven Kotak; Vali Mavara (Rabaul); Rex Kaupa; Andrew Columbus (Goroka); Peiwa Waea; Kassy Akiro (Lae); Joel Matage; James Logha; Andrew Posai; Gerard Lamis; Vali Leka; William Maha; Daniel Kosikien; Nathan Kaumu; Mau Auk; John Wesley; Paul Sipori; Clement Nakmai; Kila Vuivagi; Peter Aumi (National Capital); Robert Kua; Ando Kwalom; Malcolm BaiPNG need good rucks for Gold Coast. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 19 Jun 1980 Page 30

+ Matches+YearDate OpponentResultStadiumCaptain (vice-captain)CoachBestCrowd 1980 29 June Gold Coast Papua New Guinea 13-8 (86) def. by Gold Coast 18-17 (125) Gold Coast

2002 (International Cup) squad 1. Walter Yangomina; 2. John Ropa; 3. Peter Meli; 4. Vagi Lai; 5. John Bosko; 6. Jackson Gavuri; 7. Stephen Keu; 9. Andrew Boko; 10. Abraham Henao; 11. Rex Leka; 13. Matthew Mondo; 14. Navu Maha; 15. David Gavara; 16. Bruce Sovara; 17. Pele Kila; 18. Nathan Lowa; 19. Douglas Lai; 21. Bruce Tandawai; 22. Overa Gibson; 25. Hendry Pare; 26. Matthew Bae; 28. Patrick Vuluka; 29. Richard Aupae; 30. Joachim LogghaFox Footy broadcast. Friday 23 August 2002