The Queensland Rugby League receives some well-deserved recognition

It had been forgotten his sons attended Woodlawn College in Northern NSW.

Sport in PNG and the Pacific generally has come a long way in the last 20 years.

Its further development will genuinely enhance the Australian national interest.

I can envisage cricket, union, soccer, AFL and netball benefiting from a reasonable level of funding support from the Australian Government. A focus on regional and village communities will deliver real outcomes for Australia and our neighbours.

Forget the lopsided scores when the PMs 13 teams played on Sunday night. The PNG men’s team in particular will do far better at the forthcoming World Cup in England.

On Sunday night it was up against an enthusiastic Australian team in what was effectively a World Cup selection trial.

It did not include a number of PNG players currently playing in the UK..

Continued support for the game - and sport generally - across the Pacific needs to be encouraged.

I know the federal treasurer faces some tough choices when it comes to the budget to be presented later in October. But funding sport in our region merits is a worthy cause.