A number of injuries have forced changes to the Prime Minister’s XIII to play Papua New Guinea later this month.
Gold Coast’s Jamal Idris (hip) and William Zillman (shoulder) and Brisbane quartet Ben Hannant (wrist), Matt Gillett (shoulder), Peter Wallace (shoulder) and Corey Parker (knee/shoulder) have all been ruled out of the September 23 clash in Port Moresby.
Penrith’s Michael Jennings moves from the wing into Idris’ centre spot, with Wests Tigers’ Beau Ryan coming onto the flank.
Parramatta’s Tim Mannah fills Hannant’s frontrow spot from the bench and Ben Te’o replaces his Broncos teammate Gillett in the backrow, while Cronulla’s Wade Graham comes in for Parker.
St George Illawarra’s Dan Hunt, Sydney Roosters’ Martin Kennedy, Parramatta’s Matthew Ryan and Cronulla’s Nathan Stapleton join the extended bench.
In addition Cronulla’s Paul Gallen, Titans’ Greg Bird and Nate Myles, Penrith’s Luke Lewis and Wests Tigers’ Robbie Farah have been named in Australia’s train-on squad for the end of season Test against New Zealand.
Prime Minister’s XIII: Darius Boyd, Akuila Uate, Michael Jennings, Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan, Lachlan Coote, Scott Prince (capt), Aaron Woods, Andrew McCullough, Tim Mannah, Ben Te’o, Feleti Mateo, Wade Graham. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Martin Kennedy, Josh McGuire, Matthew Ryan, Nathan Stapleton.
