PNG must have a strong domestic league, took a last minute try for the Aussies to beat a PNG side with no overseas based players. Maybe clubs over here should look to bring a few more PNG players over. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 26f2z.html

PNG must have a strong domestic league, took a last minute try for the Aussies to beat a PNG side with no overseas based players. Maybe clubs over here should look to bring a few more PNG players over. www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 26f2z.html

They have a pretty basic set up locally but they are always very enthusiastic against the Prime Ministers select XIII (players from teams not in the NRL finals) and the scores are often reasonably close.
It is an Exhibition game played in that style.

Would England have fared that well against the PM XIII?

England would easily beat what is basically a third string team, some strong selections in some spots but some rookies and fringe players in plenty of spots.

Only a couple of those at best would be in contention for any full strength Kangaroo team.

1. Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights)

2. Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights)

3. Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers)

4. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers)

5. Beau Ryan (Wests Tigers)

6. Lachlan Coote (Penrith Panthers)

7. Scott Prince (Gold Coast Titans)

8. Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers)

9. Andrew McCullough (Brisbane Broncos)

10. Tim Mannah (Parramatta Eels)

11. Ben Te’o (Brisbane Broncos)

12. Feleti Mateo (NZ Warriors)

13. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)

14. Dan Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)

15. Martin Kennedy (Sydney Roosters)

16. Josh Maguire (Brisbane Broncos)

17. Matthew Ryan (Parramatta Eels)

18. Nathan Stapleton (Cronulla Sharks)

I dont think the PM's selection team goes into a match like this to try and carve up the PNG locals, its all about encouraging and building the foundations of the game in PNG.

I think it would be a really tight game with England TBH.that back line looks better than anything England could put together at the moment with Boyd,Uate,Jennings and Lawrence all being full internationals at some point recently.It could even be argued it has better halves.Only in the forwards might England grind out the result.

Fair play to PNG for a spirited effort, even though as you say i dont reckon the PM's select were in top gear.

I think England should beat that team more times than not. Just because they play in the Super Dooper NRL doesn't make them better than what we've got. Our forwards are up there if not better than the Aussie first string, never mind the PM XIII.

Backs, you decide... (Obviously change the England players with who you'd pick)
Boyd or Tomkins?
Uate or Hall?
Jennings or Reed?
Lawrence or Atkins?
Ryan or Briscoe?
Coote or Widdop?
Prince or Chase?

Their halves fair enough. Maybe Jennings over Reed too. The rest including forwards, all England for me.

Problem is our backs struggle though when you throw in the likes of Slater, GI, Cronk and JT.

Why do people keep picking Chase, Nationality issue aside the blokes been cr@p all season.

Yes, i would expect England to win but it wouldnt be easy.There would not be much to choose between the backs although i would say those centres are still better which just highlights our main problem area.Also,OZ could pick many combinations of halves which would trump our selections.

As for the statement about our pack being on a level or better than OZ first string, i do wonder if this is a bit of a myth that we get sold on as in recent years i have yet to see it dominate or set the platform for an English victory over the old enemy.

Agreed,
The English forwards are always touted as better than Australia's Pack and yet I cannot remember when England dominated the Aussie forwards and players like Peacock are retired, Ellis and Morley are not what they were in their prime.
That leaves Graham, Sam Burgess along with Roby, Westwood and Hock.........


In any World pack I would have to find a place for
Cam Smith
Paul Gallen
Matt Scott
Luke Lewis

The rest like Thaiday Myles, Taylor Watmough, Tamou, and Shillington are in the eye of the beholder.

Would the PM's XIII beat the "Exiles" I wonder.

Correct.I would probably have T-Rex in there aswell.I also like the look of Penrith prop Tim Grant who has just burst onto the Origin scene.

if there was a world pack picked today only Graham and Burgess would have a real shot at getting in it IMO.

Im not wanting to big up the NRL or savage Super League players or anything.Just being a realist.

Can't argue with we haven't dominated Aus, but IMO this is where we should be beating them.

I think we've got the two best props in the world (using Gallen as 13) and the best backrower in Westwood. There's not much between the rest of the players you both mention though. I do think we have the slight edge overall in the forwards, just.

Backs, mainly halves, we are light years away.

Back on topic, good to see PNG put up a contest. Lets see if they can build on that in next years WC. I do fear the PM XIII wasn't going full blooded though.