Australian selectors have added Sydney Roosters’ Craig Wing, Brisbane’s Tonie Carroll and Cronulla’s Ben Pomeroy into the Prime Minister’s XIII squad to play Papua New Guinea next week.
Wing was named at hooker for the injured Robbie Farah, with Carroll and Pomeroy on the interchange bench to replace Craig Fitzgibbon and Steve Simpson.
Braith Anasta will now start in the lock position, while Paul Gallen will shuffle into the second-row.
St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier has been named as captain following Fitzgibbon’s unavailability.
Fitzgibbon and Simpson are also out of the Kangaroos' train-on squad for next month's Test against New Zealand in Wellington, while Farah should recover in time to remain in contention.
Fitzgibbon has a finger injury which will be in a cast for six weeks while Simpson needs an arthroscope on his knee and will be out for eight to 12 weeks.
Prime Minister's XIII: Kurt Gidley (Knights), Steve Michaels (Broncos), Mark Gasnier (c) (Dragons), Joel Monaghan (Roosters), Chris Lawrence (Tigers), Greg Bird (Sharks), Scott Prince (Titans), David Shillington (Roosters), Craig Wing (Roosters), Luke Douglas (Sharks), Anthony Tupou (Roosters), Paul Gallen (Sharks), Braith Anasta (Roosters). Interchange: Tonie Carroll (Broncos), Nate Myles (Roosters), Ben Pomeroy (Sharks), Sam Thaiday (Broncos).
