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Posted: 2022-09-26 04:49:45

Last night's Prime Minister's XIII scoreline was predictable.

The Australian women's XIII dominated the PNG Orchids 64-6 and the Kumuls were taken down 64 -14 by the Aussie men at Brisbane's Lang Park.

Since the first clash in 2005, Papua New Guinea (PNG) have never won a game.

The event is nearly always scheduled at NRL finals time, and this year's edition also copped a clash with PNG's national rugby league competition's grand final week.

This prevented the selection of the best in-country talent.

But the Prime Minister's XIII serves a far higher purpose than a footy game - and on that measure, last night was a huge success.

The PM's XIII is proving to be an instrument of blue-ribbon international diplomacy, player development and a human rights initiative all in one.

With the Rugby League World Cup only weeks away, this year's PM's XIII also played a key role in World Cup selection -- for both the Aussie and PNG sides.

And what other fixture brings two prime ministers together to walk their nation's team out on the field --- and then sit side by side to enjoy a game of footy?

Kumuls squad selection

A PNG rugby league team does a training drill with one player on the ground and the ball-carrier tackled from behind.
Skipper Wartovo Puara (with the ball) and the Kumuls in training ahead of the PM's XIII game. (Supplied: PNG Kumuls)

The Kumuls didn't field a single NRL player.

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