Prime Minister's XIII, sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, are a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs. Initially, the team was selected from NRL clubs that did not qualify for the NRL finals. Over time this changed to include players whose teams were knocked out during the first two weeks of the finals, with the game played on the same weekend as the preliminary finals, one week prior to the NRL Grand Final. Since 2024, the Prime Minister's XIII game has been played on the weekend after the NRL Grand Final, with players from all clubs, including the Grand Finalists, available for selection.
History The Prime Minister's XIII first played against Papua New Guinea in 2005 at Lloyd Robson Oval in the Papua New Guinean capital, Port Moresby. The team was coached in that match by former Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga, who coached the side until 2012. New South Wales State of Origin coach Laurie Daley then took over from 2013 to 2014 with Ivan Cleary coaching the team in 2015. Meninga, appointed Australian test coach in 2016 also re-took the reins that year.
Originally played in Port Moresby, in recent years the games have been held in various locations around Papua New Guinea, including Lae and Kokopo. Unlike regular international matches, each team is allowed a five-man bench and given unlimited interchanges throughout the match.
Because the selected Australian players are not participating in the NRL finals (and are part of the Australian Test 'train-on' squad), the match is primarily used to keep potential international players match fit ahead of any end-of-season international fixtures. As the match has been played later in September, players who play for a team that has been knocked out in the first two weeks of the finals have been able to be selected for the side.
The match is also used to promote rugby league, as well as humanitarian causes such as HIV and AIDS awareness, among the Papua New Guinean community.
The PM's XIII has never lost a match against Papua New Guinea since the annual fixture commenced, but was held to a 24–24 draw in 2007, after leading 20–0 at half time.
In 2019, the PM's XIII played against the Fiji Prime Minister's XIII for the first time, at the ANZ National Stadium in Suva.
In 2022, after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fixture returned with the PM'x XIII playing the PNG PM's XIII at Suncorp Stadium, the first game to be held in Australia.
Current squad Men The Australian squad for the match on 3 October 2026 was announced on 25 September 2026. An update to the squad was announced on 30 September 2026, with four changes.
Tallies in the table include the 2026 match.
J# Player Age Position(s) PM's XIII TestMatches Club Club Matches Other Reps 1 21 1 2 0 0 8 0 Cowboys 57 57 8 2 29 1 1 7 0 18 0 Storm 114 179 36 3 25 1 1 0 0 4 0 Cowboys 36 36 24 4 26 2 1 0 0 4 0 Rabbitohs 17 151 10 8 4 4 5 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 Cowboys 38 100 43 6 23 1 3 0 0 12 0 Broncos 91 91 19 7 21 2 0 0 0 0 0 Bulldogs 38 69 1 8 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 61 61 15 9 32 1 1 0 0 4 0 Broncos 104 116 99 10 27 1 1 0 0 4 0 Sharks 81 81 11 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 32 32 34 12 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 43 43 17 13 27 3 0 1 0 2 0 Bulldogs 61 122 32 4 14 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 Raiders 41 41 21 15 26 1 0 0 0 0 0 Wests Tigers 15 47 58 16 21 1 1 0 0 4 0 Eels 33 55 18 17 26 1 1 0 0 4 0 Titans 22 68 1 18 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 48 135 80 7 19 27 2 0 0 0 0 0 Wests Tigers 114 114 20 32 2 0 0 0 0 0 Sea Eagles 22 140 1 Notes: From the initially announced squad, William Kennedy, Sosefo Fifita, Kurt Mann, and Nathan Brown were ruled out. They were replaced by Thomas Hazelton, Kurtis Morrin, Alex Seyfarth, and Jamal Fogarty.
Women The Australian women's squad for the match on 3 October 2026 was announced on 25 September 2026. Players were listed alphabetically by their given names.
Tallies in the table include the 2026 match.
J# Player Age Position(s) PM's XIII TestMatches Club Club Matches Other Reps 1 24 2 2 0 0 8 0 Bulldogs 22 33 26.008 2 23 1 3 0 0 12 0 Sharks 25 26 8 2 3 22 2 3 0 0 12 0 Eels 24 24 1 5 4 18 1 1 0 0 4 0 Dragons 13 13 5 5 23 2 2 0 0 8 0 Eels 8 9 18 6 25 2 0 6 0 12 0 Sharks 29 29 11 1 7 20 3 1 0 0 4 0 Dragons 30 30 0 8 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 Sharks 16 19 34 9 18 2 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 14 14 18 10 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 11 26 33 11 22 2 0 0 0 0 0 Eels 27 27 14 12 24 2 0 0 0 0 0 Sharks 9 27 15 1 2 13 24 3 0 0 0 0 0 Cowboys 40 40 22 3 14 24 2 3 0 0 12 0 Eels 30 30 15 2 15 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 11 22 11 16 27 2 1 5 0 14 0 Bulldogs 22 48 45 17 25 2 0 0 0 0 0 Dragons 15 17 22 1 18 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 Eels 5 5 17 19 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 Eels 16 16 6 20 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 Knights 11 11 13
Results 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Women's results 2024
2025
2026
Players
Captains Luke Ricketson (2005) Steve Price (2006) Mark Gasnier (2007) Nathan Hindmarsh (2008, 2011) Johnathan Thurston (2009) Corey Parker (2010) Scott Prince (2012) Robbie Farah (2013) Greg Bird (2014) Trent Merrin (2015) Greg Inglis (2016) Aaron Woods (2017) Daly Cherry-Evans (2018, 2022) Wade Graham (2019) Cameron Murray (2023) Damien Cook (2024) Keaon Koloamatangi (2025)
Coaches
Mal Meninga (2005–2012, 2016–23) Laurie Daley (2013–2014) Ivan Cleary (2015) Brad Fittler (2024) Kevin Walters (2025)
Records Team Largest winning margins 58 58–0 vs PNG PM's XIII, National Football Stadium – 24 September 2016. 50 64–14 vs PNG PM's XIII, Suncorp Stadium – 25 September 2022. 42 52–10 v Fiji PM's XIII, ANZ National Stadium – 11 October 2019. 40 50–10 vs PNG PM's XIII, Kalabond Oval – 29 September 2013. 40 48–8 vs PNG PM's XIII, National Football Stadium – 23 September 2017.
Individual Most games 6 Jake Trbojevic (2015–19, 2023) 5 Robbie Farah (2006, 2008–09, 2013–14) 5 Aaron Woods (2012, 2014, 2016–18) 5 Ben Hunt (2014, 2018–19, 2022–23) Most tries 6 Jarryd Hayne 5 Michael Jennings 4 Blake Ferguson 4 Chris Lawrence 4 Trai Fuller Most points 40 Zac Lomax 24 Jarryd Hayne 22 Mitchell Moses 20 Michael Jennings 20 Scott Prince Most tries in a match 4 Trai Fuller (2025) 3 Michael Jennings (2009) 3 Mitchell Moses (2016) 3 Tom Trbojevic (2017) 3 James Tedesco (2017) 3 Clinton Gutherson (2019) Most points in a match 18 Mitchell Moses (2016) 16 Aidan Sezer (2013) 16 James Maloney (2017) 16 Trai Fuller (2025) 14 Johnathan Thurston (2007)
See also
Australia national rugby league team Australian Aboriginal rugby league team Junior Kangaroos Australian Schoolboys rugby league team
References