Touted as a player to watch at the Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships, New Zealand talent Sharnyze Pihema impressed throughout to be named a joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal.
The Ahi Ka Aotearoa lock shared the honours with Papua New Guinea captain Belinda Gwasamun, whose side featured in the revamped tournament for the first time.
The National Championships are a proven pathway for those aspiring to make it in the NRLW, with last year’s Team of the Tournament featuring a number of players who went on to make their NRLW debut, including Alexis Tauaneai and Rilee Jorgensen, who played in the 2023 grand final with the Gold Coast Titans.
“(It is) unreal to be honest; I wasn’t expecting it [player of the tournament],” Pihema said.
“There are a lot of ladies out here that I feel like deserved it more than me but, I mean if that what they decided then I am happy with it.”
That Gwasamun was also a recipient of Player of the Tournament honours came as no surprise to those who have seen the rise of women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea in recent seasons.
The powerful centre was most recently named player of the match in the PNG Orchids recent win over Cook Islands in the Pacific Championships and last year gained experience playing in Australia in Queensland’s statewide BMD Premiership competition with Norths Devils.
PNG Orchids v Cook Islands Moana – Week 2, 2023
For Gwasamun, opportunities like these to represent her country were something never to be taken for granted, but she also held hopes of an NRLW contract in her future.
“This is something special for me, I wasn’t expecting this, but I think hard work has paid off, so I am proud of myself,” Gwasamun said of winning the Tahnee Norris Medal.
“It was a new kind of experience [for Papua New Guinea to play in the tournament], it was the first time for us to come and take part in this, it was intense, hard; but we managed to play.
“(Personally), I am just looking forward to what’s ahead.
“I would be happy if I grabbed an opportunity to play in the NRLW.”
An elite pathways tournament that allows players from across Australia, New Zealand – and now, the broader Pacific with the introduction of Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to showcase their skills in the representative arena, the Harvey Norman Women's Championships have given overseas-based players the opportunity to be seen by NRLW coaches for the season ahead, while still playing their best football at home.
Gwasamun was joined in the Team of the Tournament by rising PNG Orchids star Meli Joe, while Monica Samita was named alongside her Ahi Ka Aotearoa captain.
In their first tournament, Fiji had two players named, with Alesi Kilawekana and Mereseini Drotini both impressing the judges, while the two North American athletes also featured for a number of teams throughout the tournament following their selection at the NRL Combine held in Las Vegas.
Combine winners reflect on their rugby league journey so far
While Pihema has had experience playing in New South Wales in the Tarsha Gale competition, her immediate future was to head back home to New Zealand after the tournament.
“After this, I’ll go back home, settle down, go back home and play some footy,” Pihema said.
