DCE’s last shot for Australia spot as PM’s XIII named

Jasper Bruce | September 13, 2023

Daly Cherry-Evans will have one last chance to make a case for reclaiming Australia’s halfback jersey when he lines up in the Prime Minister’s XIII match on September 23.

The day after incumbent Kangaroos No.7 Nathan Cleary leads Penrith in their preliminary final, Cherry-Evans will run out against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

Cherry-Evans, 34, has already acknowledged Cleary is the front-runner to play halfback in the spring Test series, after the Panthers co-captain usurped him during last year’s victorious World Cup campaign.

But the Manly halfback followed his relegation with one of the best individual seasons of his career, despite the Sea Eagles missing finals.

He remains hungry to feature for Australia in the Pacific Test matches that begin in October.

“I’m always, always ambitious to play rep footy,” Cherry-Evans said late last month.

Tom Dearden, Cody Walker, Ben Hunt and Nicho Hynes are coach Mal Meninga’s options for Cherry-Evans’ halves partner in the PNG clash.

Comprised of players from clubs who have already been eliminated from finals contention, the Prime Minister’s XIII returned last year after a COVID-enforced hiatus.

Meninga confirmed to AAP that a finger injury had kept South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell from being considered for this match and the upcoming Pacific Tests.

The omission of star North Queensland centre Valentine Holmes came after the NRL launched an investigation into an Instagram post that appeared to show the Cowboys star with a bag of white powder.

Eight players from last year’s World Cup-winning squad have been selected, with Souths lock Cameron Murray appointed captain for the first time.

Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been selected in an indication he will make himself available for Australia in the upcoming Test series rather than Samoa, who he has previously represented.

The match traditionally showcases up-and-coming players as well, with Canberra prop Emre Guler and Gold Coast rookie Alofiana Khan-Pereira in line for their first representative jerseys.

Returning the clash to PNG, its traditional home, for the first time since 2018 is another boost for the Pacific nation in its bid to secure the licence for the NRL’s 18th team.

The 2023 Australian men’s Prime Minister’s XIII:

Josh Addo-Carr, Daly Cherry-Evans, Reuben Cotter, Tom Dearden, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Emre Guler, Ben Hunt, Nicho Hynes, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Zac Lomax, Cameron McInnes, Cameron Murray (capt), Reece Robson, Tyrell Sloan, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi, Jake Trbojevic, Cody Walker.