Test status for PM’s 13 match

THE annual Prime Minister’s 13 challenge between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been elevated to test status.
The announcement was made after the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) held joint discussions with the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) and the National Rugby League (NRL) on the change in status of the fixture as well as other aspects of the calendar.
PNGRFL chief executive officer Reatau Rau said they felt that having the PM’s 13 become a sanctioned test would only help the Kumuls become more competitive against top-tier nations Australia, England and New Zealand.
He said the change would also see the dates for the annual fixture shift from its usual mid-September date to October 6, a week after the NRL grand final.
“After the PM’s 13 last year we decided to push to make these changes because every year our (PNG) best players are caught up in finals football and are not able to play PM’s 13,” Rau said.
“There was a feeling in the country and among our sponsors that we needed to change that and we request for the NRL to consider this and they did.
“The process was not like signing documents here and there but it was upon our (PNGRFL) request.
“They (NRL) came back to us so we agreed along with RLIF to have the PM’s 13 become a sanctioned test fixture after all these years (the first match was played in 2006).
“Now we can have our best Kumuls side play the Australia and it will be known as the Prime Minister’s 13 test,” Rau said.
Kumuls coach Michael Marum said the change in status to the PM’s 13 fixture would make it a tougher and more serious match with national pride on the line.
“This means that we’ll need our best players because the Australians will come with their best,” Marum said.
“The change in dates will allows us to select our best side with players from the NRL and English Super League available and we should be a more competitive side.
“The PM’s XIII being a test will also determine our ranking every time we play with Australia which is a good thing.”
A curtain raiser women’s representative match between the PNG Orchids and the Australian Jillaroos will be played before the PM’s 13 test.