Aussies run riot as NRL young guns star in PM’s XIII clash

An Australian team bursting full of young NRL stars has proven far too strong for PNG in an annual clash against the PM’s XIII.

Papua New Guinea’s quest to accommodate the NRL’s 18th franchise received a timely boost on Sunday with a gutsy 42-20 defeat in the annual clash with the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII in Port Moresby.

Inspired by a large and parochial crowd, the home team burst out of the blocks to lead 12-0, heaping pressure on Brad Fittler’s visitors.

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Slowly but surely, however, the men in green and gold started to find their groove and three tries before half-time lifted the Aussies to a 16-12 lead at the interval.

Local fans headed home disappointed with the result but consoled by the knowledge that, if and when a PNG team is cleared to enter the NRL, there should be enough home-grown talent to be competitive.

Perth’s bid appears to be on shaky ground, but PNG can’t get involved quickly enough.

CATCH US IF YOU CAN

In 30-degree heat and with a howling wind at their backs, the PNG PM’s XII grabbed the initiative early with a burrowing dummy-half try from hooker Judah Rimbu after only three minutes.

Rimbu clearly knows his way to the line, having scored 16 tries this year playing for PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup.

Five minutes later, they spun the ball to the left edge and centre Robert Mathias sliced through to score out wide. Halfback Jamie Mavoko converted both tries - the second from near the sideline - to give the home side a dream start and pump the crowd up to fever pitch. “The atmosphere in this joint is electric ... they are up and about,” Fox commentator Michael Ennis observed.

AUSSIES KEEP THEIR COOL

Fittler’s squad featured a host of young tyros, but it was a couple of older heads who helped them get out of a sticky situation.

Halfback Jamal Fogarty grubber-kicked ahead in the 15th minute, and back-rower Beau Fermor won the race to ground the ball and score.

That steadied the Aussies’ nerves and left them facing a 12-6 deficit at the 20th-minute drinks break.

Eight minutes later, bench utility Tyran Wishart sliced through to score from dummy-half, and even though they were still 12-10 in arrears, the momentum had swung in the Aussies’ favour.

TIGERS REUNION

A reunion of former Wests Tigers teammates put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute. Replacement five-eighth Luke Brooks stepped and accelerated into open space and passed inside for bench hooker Jacob Liddle, who backed up to score his first try at representative level.

KAEO DELIVERS KO BLOWS

Canberra flyer Kaeo Weekes did not take long to stamp his class on proceedings. Coming off the bench late in the first half as replacement for Newcastle fullback Fletcher Sharpe, the 22-year-old posted back-to-back tries in the 42nd and 48th minutes - the latter a runaway 50-metre solo effort - lifting the Aussies to a comfortable 26-12 lead.

PLAY OF THEY DAY

After conceding seven unanswered tries, it would have been easy for PNG to put the cue in the rack. But instead they hit back with the try of the day to reignite the home-town fans. Winger Dudley Dotoi broke clear down the left edge and kicked ahead. The ball bounced perfectly for five-eighth Finley Glare to regather and score. For good measure, the Kumuls added another try, by centre Alex Max, in the 77th minute.

BIG DAY FOR BIG MAC

Aussie front-rower Sam McIntyre certainly made an impact on his representative debut. As well as punching out 107 metres and attack and making 28 tackles, the big North Queensland forward also scored a rare try late in the match after winning the race to a Lachlan Galvin grubber kick.

BODY BLOW FOR BROWN

In the curtain-raiser, the PM’s XIII women’s team outgunned PNG 50-0, with St George Illawarra winger Keele Browne scoring a hat-trick and centres Rory Owen and Jaime Chapman each posting doubles.

The win was overshadowed by a hamstring injury that could cost Lauren Brown, the Dally M Medallist runner-up, a spot in the Jillaroos squad for the Pacific Championships, which kick off next week.

SCHOOLBOYS CLASH A THRILLER

The PNG Junior Kumuls and the Australian Schoolboys played out a 22-22 draw after Cronulla youngster Nikora Williams failed to convert his own try after the full-time siren in a Port Moresby thriller.

The visitors fought back from 22-6 to almost pinch the game after outstanding Canterbury playmaker and Australian five-eighth, Mitchell Woods, threw a lovely pass close to the line to put Williams over before his conversion went wide, much to the delight of the locals.

The Junior Kumuls played some great, attacking footy and had stars all over the park, including Burleigh Bears centre Phillip Coates, who is the younger brother of Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates.

Originally published as Aussies run riot as NRL young guns star in PM’s XIII clash