Penrith five-eighth Lachlan Coote has been rewarded for a strong finish to the NRL season with selection in the Australian train-on squad.

The 20-man squad selected from teams not involved in the finals was named on Monday ahead of the Prime Minister’s XIII match with Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on September 23 and the Kangaroos’ clash with New Zealand on October 13 in Townsville.

Coote made a successful switch from fullback late in the season and is joined in the squad by teammates Michael Jennings, Tim Grant and outgoing Panther Luke Lewis, who joins Cronulla in 2013.

Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce has been named along with teammate and hooker Jake Friend, who represented the Prime Minister’s team last year.

Gold Coast Titans are well represented with Greg Bird, Jamal Idris, Nate Myles and William Zillman named while St George Illawarra have Ben Creagh, Brett Morris, Trent Merrin and Beau Scott.

Squad: Gold Coast – Greg Bird, Jamal Idris, Nate Myles, William Zillman; Newcastle – Darius Boyd, Akuila Uate; Penrith – Lachlan Coote, Tim Grant, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis; St George Illawarra – Ben Creagh, Brett Morris, Trent Merrin, Beau Scott; Sydney Roosters – Jake Friend, Mitchell Pearce; Warriors – Feleti Mateo; Wests Tigers – Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence, Aaron Woods.