Jack Wighton could be available for Souths sooner than expected.Credit:Getty
“He’s an up-and-comer,” Meninga said of Sloan. “We all know how exciting he is with the footy,he’s played first grade all year.
“In our discussions,we feel someone like Tyrell will really benefit from being around this group and seeing how players prepare for games. It will be great for him to have conversations with everyone in the group and it will be an experience to grow from.
“Hopefully it will be a vehicle for him to become a better player and person.”
The team includes eight representatives from the 2022 World Cup-winning Kangaroos squad,for the first Prime Minister’s XIII encounter in PNG since 2018.
Women’s PM’s XIII squad
Teagan Berry (Dragons),Kennedy Cherrington (Eels,VC),Rueben Cherrington (Eels),Abbi Church (Eels),Keisha-Leigh Coolwell (Broncos),Quincy Dodd (Sharks),Kayla Fleming (First Nations Gems),Tallisha Harden (Cowboys,C),Kimberley Hunt (Eels),Emma Manzelmann (Cowboys),Jasmin Morrissey (First Nations Gems),Rachael Pearson (Eels),Christian Pio (Tigers),China Polata (Cowboys),Tiana Raftstrand-Smith (Cowboys),Taneka Todhunter (Eels),Cassey Tohi-Hiku (Eels),Botille Vette-Welsh (Tigers),Jakiya Whitfeld (Tigers),Janelle Williams (Raiders).
Meninga said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had significant input into the team.
“Being Prime Minister is a great honour. I enjoy every part of the job,but a fun part is getting to pick the PM’s XIII sides,” Albanese said.
“These contests represent far more than just a couple of games of footy. Papua New Guinea and Australia are the closest of neighbours and we are the best of friends. We are working together to build a more prosperous,stable and peaceful region. Rugby league is an opportunity to celebrate our friendship and strengthen our partnership.”
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Meanwhile,the NRL has handed Cowboys star Valentine Holmes a breach notice over the white bag scandal,but kept his punishment private under a clause in the game’s new pay deal.
Holmes,whose Instagram account featured an image of him with a white bag in his mouth on Saturday night,has been handed the breach notice for bringing his club and the game into disrepute.
The post was taken down within minutes,but not before it was screenshotted and widely circulated on social media.
The NRL said it would not publish details of Holmes’ proposed sanction under the new terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
Holmes has five business days to respond to the breach notice.
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