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The Australian Prime Minister’s XIII flexed their muscles in a 64-14 win over a valiant Papua New Guinea side at Suncorp Stadium.
The begin proceedings, Mal Meninga’s side scored six tries within 30 minutes, starting with Nat Butcher’s lunging effort from a Daly Cherry-Evans pass.
Only minutes later, Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr crossed from a deflected Josh Addo-Carr pass, sparked by an intelligent Angus Crichton offload.
MATCH CENTRE: AUS PM’s XIII vs PNG PM’s XIII live scores, teams
“Nice play between Laurie and Angus Crichton, Addo-Carr gets the Aussies second in pretty quickfire time,” Alexander said.
“They are off and running early on,” Fox League’s Warren Smith said.
Angus Crichton then got a try of his own after Tino Fa’asuamaleaui reeled in a bomb, offloading to his teammate.
Australia weren’t done, and once again Fa’asuamaleaui orchestrated the move, finding Addo-Carr on the left side off the field off the kick-off which ended with a Zac Lomax try.
“Outstanding, Tino goes down the short side, picks up Josh Addo-Carr, he links with Daine Laurie, look at the space,” Alexander said.
“It is one way traffic early on,” Smith said.
Tries to Matt Burton, Selwyn Cobbo and Jake Averillo, with his first touch, continued the scoring – but the Papua New Guinea side wouldn’t sit down.
Halfback Kyle Laybutt found fullback Edene Gebbie with a smart pass to score his side’s first of the night.
“Even though we haven’t seen much from PNG in terms of attack, Gebbie looks like their best,” Alexander said.
“Great ball from Laybutt, and a good finish as well.”
In an impressive show of skill, PNG lock Keven Appo later put in a pinpoint grubber for Jimmy Ngutlik to score his side’s second.
Brandon Nima then scored the Kumuls’ third to complete a hattrick of tries in a red-hot run that saw momentum swing.
“It is all Papua New Guinea here in Brisbane,” Smith said.
“A great chase there, read it well Brandon Nima,” Alexander said.
From then on, it was one way traffic, with Matt Burton again scoring before Sam Walker, Daine Laurie, Beau Fermor and Selwyn Cobbo showed their skill on the left side of the field to “pile on the points”.
Re-live all the action below!
54TH MINUTE
Papua New Guinea are flying after Brandon Nima scored PNG’s third try in a row.
After being blown out in the first half, the Kumuls have fought back impressively and are winning the second half.
“It is all Papua New Guinea here in Brisbane,” Smith said.
“A great chase there, read it well Brandon Nima,” Alexander said.
Moments later Matt Burton scored from a smart Ben Hunt kick before Sam Walker danced his way over the tryline.
Tigers fullback Daine Laurie also scored a try of his own only a few tackles later before Beau Fermor crossed.
“Boy, the points are being piled on here,” Smith said.
40TH MINUTE
Papua New Guinea have scored their first on the stroke of halftime after a pinpoint pass from halfback Kyle Laybutt.
Fullback Edene Gebbie charged onto the pass to finish in the corner and record his side’s first points.
“He scores the Kumuls’ first try of the night,” Smith said.
“Even though we haven’t seen much from PNG in terms of attack, Gebbie looks like their best,” Alexander said.
“Great ball from Laybutt, and a good finish as well.”
Later, PNG lock Keven Appo put in a pinpoint grubber for winger Jimmy Ngutlik to score his side’s second.
“Flying through, Jimmy Ngutlik, he is a part of the Wests Tigers camp,” Smith said.
23RD MINUTE
Five-eighth Matt Burton has dragged a defender across the tryline, spinning to ground the ball for Australia’s fifth try.
“It is a points-fest early in this first half,” Smith said.
“Mal Meninga prowling on the sideline here.”
Broncos young gun Selwyn Cobbo later charged his way through the Papua New Guinea defence to score his side’s sixth try.
“They have cut them to ribbons again on that left side,” Smith said.
Minutes later, Jake Averillo scored with his first touch of the football, showing “too much speed” according to Warren Smith.
“Averillo’s speed, too much to handle,” he added.
14TH MINUTE
Australia have taken a dominant lead only 14 minutes into the contest, starting with an incisive run from backrower Nat Butcher, running onto a Daly Cherry-Evans pass.
While the Papua New Guinea defensive line were able to make the tackle, the Roosters gun reached out to ground the ball.
“Strong start from the PM’s,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.
“He has been in try scoring form, and he gets the Aussies his first tonight,” Fox League’s Jake Duke said.
In Round 23 of the NRL season, Butcher scored four tries in a stellar performance against the Tigers in his side’s 72-6 win.
Moments later, winger Josh Addo-Carr was able to score from a deflected Daine Laurie pass.
“Nice play between Laurie and Angus Crichton, Addo-Carr gets the Aussies second in pretty quickfire time,” Alexander said.
“They are off and running early on,” Fox League’s Warren Smith said.
Within minutes, both backrowers had scored with Angus Crichton crossing for a try from a Tino Fa’asuamaleaui offload after reeling in a bomb.
“He has half the PNG side around him, there must be seven or eight around him,” Alexander said.
“The fight in Tino was outstanding.”
Off the kick-off, Australia swung the ball left, with Fa’asuamaleaui once again orchestrating the play, allowing Addo-Carr to break away before Daine Laurie was tackled.
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans them found himself with the ball, putting in a pinpoint kick for Zac Lomax to score.
“Outstanding, Tino goes down the short side, picks up Josh Addo-Carr, he links with Daine Laurie, look at the space,” Alexander said.
“It is one way traffic early on,” Smith said.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
NRL stars Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans, Matt Burton, Angus Crichton and Josh Addo-Carr will be desperate to put their best foot forward for Kangaroos selection in this clash.
The Australian Prime Minister’s XIII will take on the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII in a crucial World Cup selection battle.
Players from both sides will be hoping to deliver and impress coaches Mal Meninga and Stanley Tepend.
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Addo-Carr, Burton, Cherry-Evans, Cobbo, Hunt, Crichton and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are right in the mix to be included in the Kangaroos extended squad.
While a number of young guns get to showcase their abilities, including Titans winger Jojo Fifita who has only played eight NRL games.
Storm middle forward Josh King was also rewarded with a call-up after a strong year, as well as Bulldogs enforcer Max King who is on the bench.
Beau Fermor, Jake Simpkin and Luke Garner round out the bench, while Dragons gun Zac Lomax will ply his trade from the bench and Daine Laurie at the back.
For the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s XIII, they will be hoping to build off a strong 24-14 mid-year win over Fiji.
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