Wests Tigers fullback Daine Laurie, hooker Jake Simpkin and Penrith-bound forward Luke Garner have gained selection for Australia’s Prime Minister’s XIII to play Papua New Guinea on Sunday week.
The representative honours follow solid seasons from all three players in what was a disappointing season for the NRL team.
Laurie had a strong finish to 2022 and was voted by his peers as the NRL team’s Players’ Player. Simpkin, who signed a contract extension last year, played nine games in just his second season with Wests Tigers, while Garner started in all but three of his 20 appearances in his fifth and final season as a Wests Tigers player.
CEO Justin Pascoe says the players have all done very well to earn representative honours.
“They should be very proud to have gained selection, as should any player who is asked to represent his country or state,” said Pascoe
I know as a club we are disappointed with how our NRL season panned out, but these individual achievements should be acknowledged and celebrated."
Justin Pascoe
“I wish Daine, Jake and Luke the very best of luck in Brisbane next weekend.”
Australian Men’s PM’s XIII Coach Mal Meninga said the match would be a vital selection guide ahead of the World Cup, which starts in October.
“I’m very pleased with the squad we have assembled,” Mr Meninga said.
“We have a mix of youth and experience. We have players who have represented the Kangaroos before, along with others who I am looking forward to seeing for the first time at this level.
This will be an important match for us in the lead-up to the World Cup and I’m eager to see what all these players are able to achieve on this stage."
Mal Meninga
The men’s and women’s PM’s XIII teams will face off against their PNG counterparts as part of a Suncorp Stadium “Footy Fest” which also features the semi-finals of the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership.
The Australian Women’s PM’s XIII squad will be named following this Sunday’s final round of the NRLW regular season.
The 2022 Australian Men’s Prime Minister’s XIII is as follows:
Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers)
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos)
Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jojo Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
Matt Burton (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos)
Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters)
Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
Josh King (Melbourne Storm)
Max King (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Beau Fermor (Gold Coast Titans)
Jake Simpkin (Wests Tigers)
Luke Garner (Wests Tigers)
Josh Curran (Warriors)
Jake Averillo (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters)
Coach: Mal Meninga
