Fifita Named Captain of Australian Prime Minister's XIII
South Sydney Rabbitohs second rower David Fifita has capped an impressive first season in the red and green by being named captain of the Australian Prime Minister's XIII.
Fifita will lead the 20-man Australian squad against Papua New Guinea at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday 3 October, adding another representative honour to his first year at South Sydney.
After joining the Rabbitohs ahead of the 2026 season, Fifita quickly made his presence felt on the edge and became an important part of the South Sydney forward pack. Across 14 appearances in his first season for the Club, Fifita crossed for four tries and produced two try assists, four line breaks, three line-break assists, 19 offloads and 44 tackle breaks.
His powerful carries were a feature throughout the year, with Fifita finishing the season with 1,971 running metres while also making 327 tackles at 88.38% efficiency.
Now, his first campaign in the red and green has been rewarded with the opportunity to captain Australia in the annual Prime Minister's XIII fixture.
Fifita headlines a squad featuring a mix of established NRL players and emerging talent from across the competition.
The team will also be coached by former Rabbitoh and 2014 Premiership winner Ben Te'o, who played 57 games for South Sydney across three seasons at the Club. Te'o will take charge of the Men's Prime Minister's XIII side in Port Moresby.
Te'o said he was excited by the balance of experience and emerging talent within the squad.
"I could not be more excited and confident to be guiding this team of players. The squad is filled with incredible talent, some of them still early in their career but who are making a massive impact with their respective clubs," Te'o said.
2026 Australian Men's Prime Minister's XIII:
William Kennedy - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Jojo Fifita - Gold Coast Titans
Jaxon Purdue - North Queensland Cowboys
Nick Meaney - Melbourne Storm
Braidon Burns - North Queensland Cowboys
Ezra Mam - Brisbane Broncos
Lachlan Galvin - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Toby Couchman - St George Illawarra Dragons
Billy Walters - Brisbane Broncos
Josh Curran - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Ryan Couchman - St George Illawarra Dragons
David Fifita (c) - South Sydney Rabbitohs
Kurt Mann - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Tallyn Da Silva - Parramatta Eels
Owen Pattie - Canberra Raiders
Nathan Brown - Manly Sea Eagles
Tom Chester - North Queensland Cowboys
Jock Madden - Wests Tigers
Josh Kerr - St George Illawarra Dragons
Hamish Stewart - St George Illawarra Dragons
The South Sydney Rabbitohs congratulate David on his selection and appointment as captain of the Australian Prime Minister's XIII.
