Australian Jillaroos

The match ended with a 40-4 scoreline, in favour of the visitors.

The visiting Australian Jillaroos treated this match like any other, making sure they got into the rhythm of the game immediately at kick off.

With the intense city heat, the Jillaroos piled on in attack from the get go, eventually scoring their first converted try in just under 10 minutes.

The Oil Search PNG Orchids were tough in their defence, tackling hard but not so much in attack.

The Jillaroos prevented them from getting too close to their try line.

Jennie-Sue Hoepper was initially named captain of the Orchids when the new team took on the Brisbane Broncos Women on October 2^nd.

Humeu, who was selected from the Southern Confederate side, was the assistant captain when they took on the Broncos.

The 23-year-old of Simbu, Wabag and Central parentage, led the Southern Confederates to victory during the 2018 National Women’s Championships.

Coach Westley said while Hoepper had experience, she currently needs to concentrate on doing fitness and ball work.

The league announced the competition this month but key aspects were unconfirmed, including which teams would be involved and how players would be recruited.

The NRL has received interest from most clubs to set up women's teams and will begin a tender process in January, which is expected to last around two months, ahead of the competition starting towards the back end of the men's season.

Cronulla-based McGregor, who played at centre in Australia's World Cup final triumph over New Zealand, said playing in the women's premiership was a top goal for her career.

Queensland stalwarts Stephanie Hancock and Renae Kunst will go into Saturday's World Cup final against New Zealand preparing for a final match in green and gold after announcing their retirements prior to the tournament.

The Jillaroos game will form part of a triple-header celebration of the women's game which will also see the Kiwi Ferns play against the Canada Ravens and England play against the Papua New Guinea Orchids.

But the win for the world number one ranked side didn’t come easy under the scorching sun of Port Moresby.

The Australians were clinical in the first half, putting on 30 points on a side that was making their first international debut.

Despite running in two early tries, it wasn’t all perfect in the second half for the Jillaroos with passages of scrappy play.

This allowed the home side to put some sets together and build up pressure inside their opponent’s half.

As expected, the two teams arrived to a rousing welcome from hundreds of rugby league fanatics.

The scorching sun did nothing to stop men, women and children who swarmed in as early as 11:30am to the Jackson’s International Airport.

The PM's XIII and Jillaroos were greeted at the ceremonial car park by a dancing group from Vabukori village.

After 1:30pm, the teams were then escorted by the PNG Rugby Football League and the PNG National Rugby League onto their buses.

The Jillaroos are due in at 12.35pm with the Australian PM’s XIII side arriving from Cairns half an hour later at 1.10pm.

Both teams will enter through the ceremonial park for the public to greet them.

Following this, a media conference will be held at 3.30pm at the Stanley Hotel where the Australian PM’s XIII coach, Mal Meninga, and captain Aaron Woods plus Jillaroos coach, Brad Donald, and captain Ruan Sims, will attend.

The PNG Orchids were presented the new jerseys from major sponsor Oil Search Limited for their curtain raiser match before the Prime Minister XIII match between the Kangaroos and the Kumuls.

OSL executive general manager stakeholder engagement, Gerea Aopi, said the company was thrilled to support the PNG Orchids.

“This is PNG’s first ever women’s national rugby league team to participate in international events and we are proud to create sporting history alongside them.

“Oil Search is a proud advocate of women’s empowerment.