Wests Tigers trio Botille Vette-Welsh, Christian Pio and Jakiya Whitfeld have been selected to play for the Australian PM's XIII against Papua New Guinea next weekend.
In her third season in the NRLW Wests Tigers prop Pio has played in all eight games in 2023 and is leading the competition in 'offloads', closely followed by teammate Najvada George.
Winger Whitfeld is also at the top of the charts in her first season at Wests Tigers, breaking more tackles than all but one other player in the NRLW through eight rounds.
Vette-Welsh, who is today celebrating her 27th birthday, has made a successful return to the top-flight after enduring a 16-month absence through injury.
She says she's delighted to be back playing the game she loves after returning from a knee reconstruction.
"I'm stoked to get selected and I'm just so happy to be playing NRLW again," said Vette-Welsh.
There have been a lot of positives in our inaugural season from a really young group of players and we'll be better for the experience next season.
Vette-Welsh
"We're hoping to end this season on a high when we take on the Knights at home on Thursday."
The Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII has been selected with a view to giving some of the best up and coming players in the NRLW an opportunity alongside a number of established representative players including Vette-Welsh, Kennedy Cherrington, and Tallisha Harden.
The Australian Men’s and Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII squads will take on PNG PM’s XIII teams at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, on Saturday, September 23.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM congratulated all players on their selection in a special team.
“These players have performed exceptionally well throughout the season and have earned the chance to wear the Green and Gold for Australia,” Mr V’landys said.
“I congratulate the players selected for both teams as to represent your country is the ultimate achievement.
It’s also an inspiration for fans in Australia and of course the fans in PNG, where Rugby League means so much.”
The 2023 Australian Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII:
Teagan Berry - Dragons
Kennedy Cherrington (VC) - Eels
Rueben Cherrington - Eels
Abbi Church - Eels
Keisha-Leigh Coolwell - Broncos
Quincy Dodd - Sharks
Kayla Fleming - First Nations Gems
Tallisha Harden © - Cowboys
Kimberley Hunt - Eels
Emma Manzelmann - Cowboys
Jasmin Morrissey - First Nations Gems
Rachael Pearson - Eels
Christian Pio - Wests Tigers
China Polata - Cowboys
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith - Cowboys
Taneka Todhunter - Eels
Cassey Tohi-Hiku - Eels
Botille Vette-Welsh - Wests Tigers
Jakiya Whitfeld - Wests Tigers
Janelle Williams - Raiders
