Powerhouse forward Elise Albert headlines the Santos PNG Orchids squad for this year’s Pacific Championships, with coach Tahnee Norris naming a 21-player squad for the tournament kicking off this Friday night.
The competition will take place across the next two months, with the Orchids playing matches in Brisbane, Port Moresby and Sydney in a busy schedule against leading teams including Australia and New Zealand.
The PNG Prime Minister’s XIII side faced off against a strong Australian Prime Minister’s XIII selection at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday as part of their preparation for the campaign ahead.
The players put in a commendable effort against an experienced Australian side who were all selected from the NRLW competition, with some having played State of Origin and with the Jillaroos.
Albert is joined in the Orchids side by other players with NRLW experience including Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka who spent season 2024 with the North Queensland Cowboys and Ua Rava, who is signed to the Canberra Raiders.
Experienced centre Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and this year was named the joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL’s Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships.
The players have assembled in camp in Brisbane to prepare for their Pacific Championships campaign which will kick off at Suncorp Stadium against the Australian Jillaroos on Friday, October 18.
PNG Orchids Pacific Championships squad
Belinda Gwasamun – Wentworthville Magpies
Delailah Ahose – Goroka Lahanis
Elsie Albert – Parramatta Eels
Emily Veivers – Norths Devils
Essay Banu – Norths Queensland Cowboys
Freda Anthony – Central Dabaris
Freda Waula – Mt Hagen Eagles
Gloria Kaupa – Wentworthville Magpies
Jessikah Reeves – Western Clydesdales
La-Toniya Norris-Addo – Darwin Brothers
Leila Kerowa – Central Dabaris
Lilah Malabag – Port Moresby Vipers
Lyiannah Allen – Mt Hagen Eagles
Mala Mark – Central Dabaris
Meli Joe – Mt Hagen Eagles
Roswita Kapo – Wentworthville Magpies
Sareka Mooka – North Queensland Cowboys
Sera Koroi – Goodna
Talitha Kunjil – Mt Hagen Eagles
Ua Ravu – Canberra Raiders
Yolanda Taute – Goroka Lahanis
*(first name alphabetical order)
