Elsie Albert is under no illusions about the task facing her Orchids side on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium but she is heartened by the fact the world's best side has chosen to run out a full-strength side for the tournament opener.
After sitting out Sunday's 50-0 loss to the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII with a calf tear, Albert returns for the daunting assignment against the world champions, who boast strike across the park.
“It's a sign of respect that they're putting out a strong team against us,” Albert said.
“I think for us, it's all about improving each game. This will be a learning curve for us as a Papua New Guinean team because most of our girls, haven't played many games.
“These girls from Australian side, they train three days a week, have access to everything that they can to be in the condition to play.
“Our girls, most of them came straight from grassroots games.
“(But) it's very exciting, it's always a pleasure, it's a pride thing for us, donning the PNG Orchids jersey.
“So to don the jersey again, it means a lot to me and it would be great to go out with the girls.
“We trained really well along the week and here, our last training was pretty good and the whole progress of the training from day one in camp until now has been a good progression.
“We're looking forward to the match.”
After Australia showed their class with eight first-half tries in Port Moresby to run up a 44-0 lead, the Orchids showed plenty of grit to restrict the green and gold to just one four-pointer in the second term.
Albert is a formidable competitor and has been a trailblazer who started her career in Papua New Guinea before working her way through Queensland’s statewide competition into the NRLW, but many of her current Orchids team-mates are just starting out on their rugby league journey.
The majority of players in the side have been selected from the fledgling Santos Cup, PNG’s national competition which is in its inaugural year.
The competition, which features teams from six provinces across the country, is a positive step on the pathway to educating the country’s female players about what it takes to play the game at a highly competitive level.
“It's a good thing that PNGRFL have set up the Santos Cup for the girls," said Albert, who lines up for her fifth Test match on Friday.
“Now the girls have something to look forward to, and they know the steps are there; play Santos, get into Orchids and then play well in the international arena, and then you get picked up.
“I think it's a good basis for the PNG girls to build.
“Most girls came from the Santos Cup and we've only just started, first year; but two or three years on; I think the how it's run and everything that’s involved, it will be really good for the girls.
“I'm looking forward to see how that competition goes and how the girls will be conditioned and how they can be ready to play international matches when they come.”
Albert, who claimed Parramatta’s NRLW player of the year honours, was also looking forward to seeing her Eels teammates Mahalia Murphy and Abbi Church on the big stage with the Jillaroos.
“I think they deserve their call-ups, they've been having a good season," Albert said.
“Abbi has been there with the club since the beginning and she's been playing consistent footy and Dally M fullback as well.
“I think she deserves it, the spot that she gets and Mahalia as well.
“She's been playing good footy, with hard runs and she's been doing great and she's our captain as well and I think she deserves the call up and it'll be good to see us going against each other.
“I'm keen for the match-up as well.
“I'm not on their side, but I'll try to run at them.”
Match: Jillaroos v PNG Orchids
Week 1 -
home Team
Jillaroos
away Team
PNG Orchids
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
