Mooka named in Australian PM's XIII side
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Titans veteran and rugby league legend Steph Hancock will lead the Australian Prime Minister's XIII side for their clash against PNG at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Eight Titans and eight Broncos players who were knocked out of NRLW finals contention last week have been included in the 20-player squad, ensuring the four-game event will hold plenty of Queensland star power.
Hancock is the equal sixth most capped Jillaroo with 20 Tests to her name while she is also the national side's leading try-scorer with 13.
The 40-year-old enjoyed another strong personal season for the Titans in her return to rugby league this year with four tries in five games and will be joined by likes of Maroons teammates Karina Brown and Tiana Raftstrand-Smith.
Brown captained the corresponding PM's XIII side in 2019 and has retained the fullback spot for the match.
The Broncos will have stars Jaime Chapman and Tallisha Harden on show with young gun Jada Ferguson to partner Titan Lauren Brown in the halves.
Jillaroos winger Shakiah Tungai, who scored a hat-trick in the 2018 Prime Minister's XIII match in PNG, has been included on the extended bench.
Four players have also earned call-ups for the match after recently impressing at the Indigenous Women's Academy research camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
The match is the first featuring an Australian women's rugby league side since 2019 after the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the international schedule.
It will also be a crucial game for World Cup selectors with players on the cusp of selection looking to stake late claims to be picked in the Jillaroos squad next month.
"This is a very strong squad," Australian PM's XIII coach Brad Donald said.
"We have a mix of very experienced players as well as some of our up-and-coming young players who I’m very pleased to see being given this opportunity."
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea have named their Prime Minister's XIII squad with former Eels NRLW hooker Therese Aiton included in the squad.
The Orchids also have former Broncos development player Jessikah Reeves and former Dragons squad member Shellie Long listed on the interchange.
PNG powerhouse Elsie Albert will be available for the side due to her commitments with the Dragons in the NRLW semi-finals on Sunday.
Match: AUS PM XIII v Papua New Guinea
Round 2 -
home Team
AUS PM XIII
away Team
PNG Orchids
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for AUS PM XIII is number 1 Karina BrownFullback for Papua New Guinea is number 1 Joanne Lagona
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Winger for AUS PM XIII is number 2 Emily BassWinger for Papua New Guinea is number 2 Anika Butler
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Centre for AUS PM XIII is number 3 Jaime ChapmanCentre for Papua New Guinea is number 3 Belinda Gwasamun
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Centre for AUS PM XIII is number 4 Shenae CiesiolkaCentre for Papua New Guinea is number 4 Sera Koroi
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Winger for AUS PM XIII is number 5 Baylee DaviesWinger for Papua New Guinea is number 5 Shae Yvonne De La Cruz
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Five-Eighth for AUS PM XIII is number 6 Jada FergusonFive-Eighth for Papua New Guinea is number 6 Shirley Joe
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Halfback for AUS PM XIII is number 7 Shakiah TungaiHalfback for Papua New Guinea is number 7 Lilah Malabag
Forwards
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Prop for AUS PM XIII is number 8 Ahlivia IngramProp for Papua New Guinea is number 8 Gloria Kaupa
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Hooker for AUS PM XIII is number 9 Lauren BrownHooker for Papua New Guinea is number 9 Roswita Kapo
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Prop for AUS PM XIII is number 10 Stephanie HancockProp for Papua New Guinea is number 10 Talitha Kunjil
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2nd Row for AUS PM XIII is number 11 Zara Canfield2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 11 Carol Humeu
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2nd Row for AUS PM XIII is number 12 Tallisha Harden2nd Row for Papua New Guinea is number 12 Veronica Waula
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Lock for AUS PM XIII is number 13 Sareka MookaLock for Papua New Guinea is number 13 Essay Banu
Interchange
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Interchange for AUS PM XIII is number 14 Sophie HolymanInterchange for Papua New Guinea is number 14 Martha Molowia
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Interchange for AUS PM XIII is number 15 Jessika EllistonInterchange for Papua New Guinea is number 15 Jessikah Reeves
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Interchange for AUS PM XIII is number 16 Laikha ClarkeInterchange for Papua New Guinea is number 16 Michelle John
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Interchange for AUS PM XIII is number 17 Tiana Raftstrand-SmithInterchange for Papua New Guinea is number 17 Shellie Long
Reserves
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Reserve for AUS PM XIII is number 18 Dannii PereseReserve for Papua New Guinea is number 18 Therese Aiton
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Reserve for AUS PM XIII is number 19 Libby SurhaReserve for Papua New Guinea is number 19 Bertshiba Awoi
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Reserve for AUS PM XIII is number 20 Tawana TogoReserve for Papua New Guinea is number 20 Emily Veivers
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Dave Munro
Last updated:
Australian Women's PM's XIII squad
- Karina Brown (Gold Coast Titans)
- Emily Bass (Brisbane Broncos)
- Jaime Chapman (Brisbane Broncos)
- Shenae Ciesiolka (Brisbane Broncos)
- Baylee Davies (Indigenous Women's Academy)
- Jada Ferguson (Brisbane Broncos)
- Lauren Brown (Gold Coast Titans)
- Ahlivia Ingram (Indigenous Women's Academy)
- Jetaya Faifua (Gold Coast Titans)
- Steph Hancock (Gold Coast Titans)
- Zara Canfield (Gold Coast Titans)
- Tallisha Harden (Brisbane Broncos)
- Sareka Mooka (Indigenous Women's Academy)
- Sophie Holyman (Brisbane Broncos)
- Jessika Elliston (Gold Coast Titans)
- Laikha Clarke (Gold Coast Titans)
- Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Gold Coast Titans)
- Dannii Perese (Brisbane Broncos)
- Shakiah Tungai (Brisbane Broncos)
- Tawana Sullivan-Togo (Indigenous Women's Academy)
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister's XIII squad
- Joanne Lagona
- Anika Butler
- Belinda Gwasamun
- Sera Koroi
- Shae-Yvonne De la Cruz
- Shirley Joe
- Lilah Malabag
- Gloria Kaupa (c)
- Roswita Kapo
- Talitha Kunjil
- Carol Humeu
- Veronica Waula
- Essay Banu
- Martha Molowia
- Jessikah Reeves
- Michelle John
- Shellie Long
- Therese Aiton
- Bertshiba Awoi
- Emily Veivers
