Merritt PM XIII Selection
14th September 2009
South Sydney’s Nathan Merritt has been selected on the wing for the annual Australian PM XIII match in Port Morseby but has been ruled out of the Prime Minister’s XIII to play Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday 27 September after the Australian Rugby League announced the side yesterday. Merritt will undergo hand surgery next week in order to be ready for Rabbitohs' pre-season training in November. The match at Lloyd Robson Oval will be preceded by the team conducting community work with AusAID and the Papua New Guinea Rugby League aimed at promoting critical health messages. Team of the Century member Mal Meninga will coach the Prime Minister’s XIII side for the fifth consecutive year. Also joining the coaching staff is former Test and Origin great Brad Fittler. “Mal has done a terrific job with this side over the past four years and he and the team will again be great representatives for Australia on and off the field this year,” Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd said today. “I look forward to the team continuing the legacy they have built through their important community work off the field in the lead up to the match. “It is always a tough game against the Papua New Guinean side so I wish ‘my team’ all the best.”