Thumping PM's XIII win comes at cost for Aussie women

Lauren Brown went off injured in the PM XIII's emphatic win over Papua New Guinea. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia will count the cost of their 50-0 win over PNG in the women's Prime Ministers' XIII match as Lauren Brown suffered an injury only days from the Pacific Championships.

Gold Coast utility Brown went down clutching her left hamstring after dropping the kick-off following Jaime Chapman's second try on Sunday afternoon.

She came from the field and watched from the sidelines as Australia stormed to a game-defining 44-0 half-time lead in Port Moresby.

Brown finished the NRLW season as joint runner-up for the Dally M Medal and looked assured of a spot in the 17 for the Pacific Championships opener against PNG this Friday.

Instead, Jillaroos coach Brad Donald will be left deliberating whether to promote a playmaker into the squad to join Ali Brigginshaw and Tarryn Aiken.

Jesse Southwell showed she would be up to the task after tearing the shell-shocked Orchids apart on the edges before half-time.

The Newcastle playmaker threw the last pass for three of Australia's eight first-half tries, including when she put newly-fit captain Kezie Apps into a hole.

Australia needed only 17 tackles inside the Orchids' half to storm to their 44-0 lead, with Chapman's try from the kick-off a particular highlight after the first drinks break.

The Orchids brought renewed defensive intensity to the second half but remained error-prone with the football and could not exert pressure with their kicking game.

But restricting Australia to six points in the second half will be a source of confidence in PNG, where a semi-professional women's league played its first season this year.

Left winger Keele Browne crossed through a gaping hole to seal her hat-trick in Australia's only four-pointer of the second 35 minutes.

PNG captain Elsie Albert, rested from the PM's XIII clash, is set to rejoin her side for the Pacific Championships rematch as Australia rolls out a new-look team.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store