Radio interview - SEN Sydney Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy

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 Jerome Hughes on winning the Dally M last night. 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 tried to get a balance there of some, Lachlan Galvin is, I think, a sensational playing gun for my team, the Rabbitohs. He's like a Cameron Murray put on the photocopier, I think.

HOST: Agreed.

PRIME MINISTER: So, 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 one 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 one to 13 on the field.

HOST: That's true.

PRIME MINISTER: Campbell Graham didn't worry a blade of grass. 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. 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 in the men's and the women's team. Kezie Aps from the West 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.

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, they just dominated that last 20 minutes in a way that I've never seen done at that level. And I think Penrith have that experience. But I wouldn't be at all surprised. Great players 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.

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