HOST: As we said it right at the top of the program today, we know there's some very serious events in the world on the news front but today, we have the Prime Minister of Australia on in the context of rugby league and we hope you appreciate that. There is the PM's XIII game coming up October 13. Brad Fittler, is he having input into it? Well, let us find out from the man himself. Busy schedule, but he's been good enough to join us on Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy again this morning. Prime Minister, welcome. How are you?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, guys. Good to be with you. And I am very, very well. Congrats to Jahrome Hughes on winning the Dally M last night. A real deserved award, I think, for a player who's improved his game so much.
HOST: He's had a dynamic season, there's no doubt about that. We're going to pin you for a grand final tip, Prime Minister. But first of all, answer this one. Around the selection of the Prime Minister's XIII. In your busy schedule, do you get time? Because rugby league is a first love of yours. We know that. Genuine rugby league fan all your life. Do you actually have input? Do you? Do you write a few names down on a post-it note?
PRIME MINISTER: I certainly do. We have a phone hookup with Peter V’landys and Mal Meninga and Freddy Fittler and a few others were all part of that. And we did that around about a week ago and try to get a balance there of some real up-and-comers, future stars. People like Fletcher Sharpe will be playing at fullback, from the Knights. He plays on the wing, of course, because they’ve got a fellow called ‘Ponga’ there normally, but he’s an outstanding talent. People like, a whole bunch of young guns. Lachie Galvin is, I think, sensational, playing five-eighth for a team that didn’t have its best year, like the Knights, Tallis Duncan, playing for my team, the Rabbitohs. He's like a Cameron Murray put on the photocopier, I think.
HOST: Agreed.
PRIME MINISTER: So, players like that, with that experience, and then mixing it up with some veterans. Damien Cook will be the captain. South Sydney Rabbitoh off to St George but he’ll, I think, lead the team around the ground with great distinction. Luke Brooks, so that mix of experience and young guns, future Kangaroos, is certainly what Mal Meninga wanted. Freddy will be the coach up there in PNG. And it'll be such a great experience. PNG is the one place on earth that is obsessed by just one sport. I mean, it's not cricket, it's not AFL, there's not anything else. It's all about rugby league.
HOST: So, Albo in the phone hookup, when you said, ‘I want the Rabbitohs 1 to 13’, Freddy and Mal didn't go along with that, they said no, they said, ‘No, you can't do that, Anthony’?
PRIME MINISTER: As you’d be aware, Brandy, we were lucky at various stages this year to be able to have 1 to 13 on the field.
HOST: That's true.
PRIME MINISTER: Campbell Graham didn't worry a blade of grass this year, for example. So, with Cooky, the veteran, we're sad to see him leave the Rabbitohs. But him as captain, I think it's no surprise this year we had no disagreement over who the captain might be. Last year, the captain happened to be Cameron Murray. It's just coincidental that South Sydney players have ended up captain the last couple of years. I’ve settled for that.
HOST: Quality humans, both of them. Now, Prime Minister, you come on our program. You're at the mercy of our text line. Jay's come in with, ‘He might not pick the whole team, but surely he picks the left wing’. That’s not bad.
PRIME MINISTER: That’s pretty good.
HOST: That's not bad. You don't pick the right wing, you pick the left wing. Is that right?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we got Xavier Savage, who I think is a sensational talent, and Khan-Pereira is the other wingers. He's topped the try scorers this year. It's a great team and we have a talk through, and what I normally spend my time discussing, it's actually a pretty good refreshing break to be able to chat footy with some legends for half an hour when we’re selecting the men's and the women's team. Kezie Apps from the Wests Tigers will lead the women's team up there. And we try as well to have players from all of the clubs represented. And so, I think that gives everyone the opportunity when they're watching the game. I remember last year the PNG team scored first and the crowd just went crazy. And it was a terrific game last year. It was a real contest. And this year, for the women and men who will go up there representing Australia, they will have the time of their lives. They will be received as heroes when they arrive in Port Moresby in the lead up to the game on Sunday, October 13.
HOST: Brandy's just, you wouldn't have heard this, Prime Minister. Before the 7:30 news, we pinned Brandy on some points, as you know, Penrith through and through. But he sounded worried. He sounded worried. Are you confident in your tip for Sunday night? Melbourne or Penrith?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not confident at all. I think it'll be a great game. I am tipping Penrith to get there. They just seem to know how to get it done. And anyone who watched last year, of course, with that rather extraordinary taking over of the game. Cleary just dominated that last 20 minutes in a way I’ve ever seen done at that level. And I think Penrith have that experience. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if Melbourne get there. They have been the best team all year. Minor premiers, and they’ve got great players like Jahrome Hughes and Munster, but they’ve also got players that Bellamy takes from other clubs and turns good players into great players, and he’s been a great coach. So I’m looking forward to the best two teams all year and playing off on Sunday. And I just hope that it's a tight game. I'm sure it will be.
HOST: Well, we look forward to the announcement of the complete Prime Minister's XIII team. Albo, you've done, looks like you've done a pretty good job. Enjoy the Grand Final. And I hope to see you on the tennis court soon. I know you're busy, but maybe post season we can have a hit.
PRIME MINISTER: Indeed. Thanks very much guys. And I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Final on Sunday.
HOST: Well done. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Anthony Albanese, tipping a Penrith victory.