Papua_New_Guinea_national_Australian_rules_football_team

Papua New Guinea
Nickname(s)	The Mosquitoes
Governing body	PNG Rules Football Council
Head coach	David Lake
Captain	John James Lavai
Rankings
Current	2nd (as of October 2022)
First international
	Papua New Guinea 24 - 5 Nauru ; (1976)
International Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 2002)
Best result	1st (2008, 2014, 2017)

Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team

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The Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team (nicknamed the Mosquitos (Tok Pisin: Moskitos) and for sponsorship purposes, the Telikom PNG Mosquitos) represents Papua New Guinea in the team sport of Australian rules football. It is one of the nation's most successful sporting teams, currently ranked 2nd in the world behind Australia.

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The Mosquitos celebrate winning the 2008 International Cup after the siren in a thriller at the MCG against New Zealand

The PNG Mosquitos are selected from the best born and raised male players from the clubs and teams of Papua New Guinea. Formed in the 1960s to participate in tests against popular teams from Australia, PNG debuted internationally in 1976 against Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby which it won convincingly.^[2] It has a strong rivalry with Indigenous Australian teams, defeating them in the majority of their rare encounters including 1973, 1974 and 2009. It has remained a dominant international side, becoming the most decorated nation in international Australian Football, having won the most Australian Football International Cup titles (3 - 2008, 2014, 2017) and five medals including 3 silver medals (2002, 2005, 2011), featuring in every Grand Final since the inaugural tournament in 2002, as well as winning three gold medals at the Arafura Games.

History

Prior to the independence of Papua New Guinea, various representative sides were assembled. The earliest, in 1956 representing Papua travelled to Australia and defeated regional representative Queensland sides from both Cairns and Innisfail.^[4]

In the late 60s and early 1970s, Australian clubs began to notice the rapid growth of the game in PNG and toured to compete against selections of local players but it wasn't until 1973 that the national team first began to form, mainly to tour Australia to play against indigenous sides.^[5]

As part of the celebrations for independence in 1975 the first full international test played between the national sides of Papua New Guinea and Nauru in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby was won by PNG by 129 points.^[2] Despite significant planning reciprocal tour to Nauru planned for 1978 did not eventuate. One of the biggest challenges for the national team was that many of its best players were outside of Port Moresby (some of the strongest leagues were in the north, the highlands and New Britain) and lacked a means to travel to train and play in the team, let alone to fly overseas.^{[citation needed]}

1977 saw Australian Under 17 squad tour Papua New Guinea, and the PNG team reciprocated in Adelaide, with Australia taking the honours in a close match.^[6]

In 1978 Australia's National Football League assumed control of the team and diverted all its funding to juniors and entered a side into the 1979 Teal Cup to create a talent pathway to VFL however the initiative was extremely unsuccessful with the Teal Cup team performing disastrously and no players recruited to the senior VFL. Due to no funding for senior international tests (PNG had to cancel its proposed 1979 tour of Nauru), it also caused the PNG government to withdraw all national funding for the sport. Following the withdrawal of the Australian administration and the collapse of the national competitions, an undermanned PNG team played mainly against teams mainly from Queensland.

In 1995 the Mosquitos competed internationally under the moniker of the Mosquitos at the Arafura Games in Darwin, Northern Territory. That year PNG won the gold medal of the International division defeating New Zealand. In the same competition, PNG also competed against sides from Nauru, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

In 1996 the Mosquitoes played a curtain raiser to an Australian Football League match in Perth overwhelmingly defeating the Central Desert Eagles.

In 1997, PNG successfully defended their Arafura Games title again defeating New Zealand.

In 1999 won the gold medal again at the games, once again defeating New Zealand in the final.

In 2000, the Mosquitoes were invited to play New Zealand in a curtain raiser to a pre-season AFL match in Wellington, but were unable to raise the funds required.

In 2002, Papua New Guinea competed in the International Cup in Melbourne. PNG went through the competition undefeated only to lose to Ireland in the Grand Final.

A minor setback to the representation of the Mosquitos was the cancellation of the 2003 Arafura Games due to SARS fears.

Prior to the 2005 International Cup, AFL legend Mal Michael offered to play for the PNG side, but was ruled ineligible by the AFL. Although he was born in PNG, he did not satisfy the criteria since he had moved to Australia at too young an age. Despite Michael not being involved in the side, he tipped PNG to win the competition, hailing the strong growth in the local competitions.

In the 2005 International Cup, PNG again went through the competition unbeaten only to lose the Grand Final to a much improved New Zealand national team. Papua New Guinea's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Navu Maha. Navu also won the award for the best player in the 2005 International Cup series and captained both the 2002 and 2005 teams.

In early 2008, the national team secured its first major sponsor – Telikom PNG – which helped to fund the junior squads competing in Australia and the senior squad's International Cup campaign.

In the 2008 International Cup, PNG, captained by Alister Sioni again went through the competition unbeaten, this time defeating New Zealand in a thriller. 2 points up at the final siren, 17-year-old Amua Pirika kicked a goal after the siren. Donald Barry was best on the ground in the Grand Final. Overa Gibson was best and fairest in the 2008 International Cup. 4 Mosquitos were named in the All-International team – Donald Barry, Overa Gibson, Joe Lla and Stanis Susuve.

A spin-off team, the PNG Maruks club, formed in 2019 to play under different eligibility criteria, won the Asian Australian Football Championships in 2019 in their debut year.^[7]

Squad and Test history

Junior Men's Team

The "Binatangs" are the underage men's team. There are Under 14, U16 and U18 squads. The Binatangs compete in the Oceania Cup as well as the Queensland Country Australian Football Championships and more recently, the Queensland State Australian Football Championships.

The first national junior men's squads were formed in the 1970s and they debuted at international level.

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[1] [1]
https://worldfootynews.com/article.php/2022102316562220

[Nauru1-2] [2]
"It's PNG by 129 points". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 21 September 1976. p. 24. Retrieved 25 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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Mosquitos launched PNG Post-Courier Fri 3 Sep 1993 Page 20

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"PRESENTING PORT MORESBY'S '56 ALL STARS". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 September 1975. p. 27. Retrieved 12 July 2022 – via National Library of Australia.

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Rules Side Named. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier2 Oct 1973 Page 20 SPORT

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"Full Points Footy 1977 to 1980". Fullpointsfooty.net. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2007.

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PNG Claim Their First Champs – 2019 Asian Championships Division 1 Men's Results

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Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine

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Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine

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Archived 4 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine

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Archived 26 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine

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"BOB LOW TO UMPIRE BIG RULES GAME". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 8 October 1969. p. 31. Retrieved 24 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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"Selectors will pit youth against mighty Saints". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 7 October 1969. p. 23. Retrieved 26 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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"Papua will be no push-over for St. Kilda". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 26 September 1969. p. 47. Retrieved 24 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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"Papua down to St.Kilda but not disgraced". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 9 October 1969. p. 32. Retrieved 24 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

[16] [16]
Our rules boys retain title. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier. 7 Oct 1974 Page 24

[17] [17]
PNG defeats Aborigines. The Canberra Times. 7 Oct 1974 Page 10

[18] [18]
Good win to PNG in rules game. Papua New Guinea Post-Courie8 Oct 1973 Page 24

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Top umpire for match (5 October 1973). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 56. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251224878

[20] [20]
"Rules team to tour Tasmania". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 1 August 1975. p. 46. Retrieved 25 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

[21] [21]
"Big rules game off — no money". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 9 September 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 25 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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Rules squad named. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 24 Sep 1976 Page 51

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NORTH TOO GOOD BUT PNG IMPRESS (11 October 1976). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 20. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250564136

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(11 October 1976). Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981), p. 18. Retrieved 24 September 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page27775565

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PNG rules side chosen. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 15 Jun 1977 Page 28

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"Side named for". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 22 June 1978. p. 28. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

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"Port Moresby harness gale to beat visitors". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 October 1977. p. 19. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

[28] [28]
PNG need good rucks for Gold Coast. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 19 Jun 1980 Page 30

[29] [29]
Fox Footy broadcast. Friday 23 August 2002

[30] [30]
Short but fast squad named for PNG from World Footy News

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Brett Northey. "Mozzies name star studded squad". World Footy News.

[32] [32]
IC11 Squad - PNG Mozzies full of young guns from World Footy News

[33] [33]
AFL PNG Announces Initial Mosquitoes Squad for 2014 International Cup from World Footy News

[34] [34]
IC17 Preview: Papua New Guinea Mosquitos from World Footy News

[Minister_note_lift_in_standard-35] [35]
"Minister note lift in standard". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 25 August 1977. p. 26. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

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"JUNIOR RULES SQUAD NAMED". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 10 August 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 7 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

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"AUSSIES OUT DO PNG". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 8 June 1978. p. 26. Retrieved 3 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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"JUNIORS TO TOUR". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 11 May 1978. p. 27. Retrieved 7 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.

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25 - MAN NATIONAL. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 22 Jun 1978 Page 27

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"AUSSIES OUT DO PNG". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 8 June 1978. p. 26. Retrieved 3 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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Teal side picked. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier 31 May 1979 Page 32

[TealCup1-42] [42]
"PNG RULES BOYS GET CANING". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 18 June 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 25 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

[TealCup2-43] [43]
"PNG LEARN RULES — THE HARD WAY". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 19 June 1979. p. 24. Retrieved 25 September 2021 – via National Library of Australia.

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"Boomerangs PNG tour wrap up and photos - World Footy News". www.worldfootynews.com.

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Game Day 2 - PNG convincing winners over Australian Indigenous/Multicultural side in first-ever WIC clash by Tobietta Rhyman for World Footy News 15 August 2011

[46] [46]
3 May 2012

[47] [47]
Karakums get exposure in Queensland AFL Championship from Loop PNG 22 November 2016

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Cream of AFL under 19 talent from Nauru and PNG to face off under the eyes of talent scouts in Brisbane By Richard Ewart for ABC Pacific 30 June 2023

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Double victory for Nauru over PNG from the Post Courier 6 July 2023

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Year	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Captain (vice-captain)	Coach	Best	Crowd
1973	7 October	Aboriginal Australia	Papua New Guinea 17.19 (121) def Aboriginal Australia 12.18 (90)	Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby		Herea Amini, Jack Moffatt	Philip George	6,000^[18]^[19]
1974	6 October	Aboriginal Australia	Aboriginal Australia 12.12 (84) def. by Papua New Guinea 11.13 (89)	Ainslie Oval, Canberra

Year	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Captain (vice-captain)	Coach	Best	Crowd
1976	20 September	Nauru	Papua New Guinea def Nauru (final margin 129 points)	Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby			Pat Amini	10,000^[2]
1976	9 October	North Melbourne Football Club	Papua New Guinea 11-10 (76) def. by North Melbourne 18-12 (120)	Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Port Moresby			Ereman Ragi	8,000^[23]^[24]

Year	Date	Opponent	Result
1979	16 June	Australian Capital Territory	Australian Capital Territory 26-12 (168) def Papua New Guinea 3-6 (24)^[42]
1979	18 June	New South Wales	New South Wales 19-16 (130) def Papua New Guinea 8-8 (56)^[42]
1979	17 June	South Australia	South Australia 42-40 (292) def Papua New Guinea 1-5 (11)^[43]

Year	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Captain (vice-captain)	Coach	Best	Crowd
2009		Flying Boomerangs	Papua New Guinea (U18) 9.12 (66) def Flying Boomerangs 9.11 (65)	University of PNG Oval, Papua New Guinea^[44]			Kayne, Nicholas, Pena, Norman, Carbry	2,500
2009		Flying Boomerangs	Papua New Guinea B (U18) 2.2 (14) def by Flying Boomerangs 7.10 (52)	Lae, Papua New Guinea^[44]				8,000

Papua_New_Guinea_national_Australian_rules_football_team

Papua New Guinea national Australian rules football team

Identity

History

International competition

International Cup

Arafura Games

Squad and Test history

1969 squad

1973/4 squad

1975 (First National) squad

1976 squad

1977 squad

1980 squad

2002 (International Cup) squad

2005 (International Cup) squad

2008 (International Cup) squad (premiers)

2011 (International Cup) squad

2014 (International Cup) squad (premiers)

2017 (International Cup) squad (premiers)

Junior Men's Team

1977 U17 vs Victoria

1978 U17 Australian tour

1979 (Teal Cup U17) tournament

2009 Flying Boomerangs Tour

Women's Teams

PNG Flame (Open level)

Karakums (U16/U19)

See also

References

External links

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Rankings

Nickname(s)	The Mosquitoes
Governing body	PNG Rules Football Council
Head coach	David Lake
Captain	John James Lavai
Current	2nd (as of October 2022^[1])
First international
Papua New Guinea 24 - 5 Nauru (1976)^[2]
International Cup
Appearances	6 (first in 2002)
Best result	1st (2008, 2014, 2017)