PNG Orchids

Jeffries, who earlier this month coached the Indigenous All-Stars women to an 18-8 over the Māori women, said that he is honoured to coach the Orchids in their second World Cup appearance.

“I see PNG as an untapped playing market in the women’s game,” Jeffries said. 

“If they play with the passion and pride that they normally demonstrate with some football smarts added in, it is a good recipe for success.

Aiton, who is only the third Orchids international to earn an NRLW contract after Amelia Kuk and Elsie Albert, has created a scholarship program to help promising PNG players further their careers in Australia.

Albert, the Orchids captain and St George Illawarra prop, was the first beneficiary after Aiton organised for her to come to Brisbane in 2020 to play for Souths Logan Magpies.

The opportunity has come about through a partnership between the PNGRFL and the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).

According to PNGRFL High Performance Manager and Kumul Coach Michael Marum, 10 girls have been identified and will be assembled in Port Moresby next week to go through a 3week High Performance training program. After the training, six of the 10 girls will be selected to travel down to Queensland.

Yogi’s appointment was endorsed by the PNG Rugby Football League HR & Management committee and has been rectified by the PNGRFL Board.

 “She is a government affairs advisor at Oil Search and an outstanding athlete herself having represented Papua New Guinea in canoeing in several Pacific Games,” PNGRFL Chairman, Sandis Tsaka said.

 “As an experienced geoscientist, Okaro brings an exciting set of values and unique skillset that complements her sporting experience.” 

The PNG women outgunned their visitors, the England Women’s Rugby League team, 20 points to 16 this afternoon at the Oil Search National Football Stadium.

PNG had a slow start in the beginning of the match.

Although England set the pace for the match in the first half, PNG caught up soon enough and was in control of the first half.

At half-time, it was 10 points to 6 in favour of the Orchids.

Back into second half, the home side powered on with another converted try.

The film premiered this week (8 April) in London’s Covent Garden district, the cultural hub of the city, and had to be moved to a bigger cinema screen after attracting a near sell-out audience. Most had never had the opportunity to watch a film about PNG.

This is the opening statement in the new rugby league documentary that will soon premiere in PNG.

A powerful and inspiring film, Power Meri follows the journey of the PNG Orchids from inception to the world stage.

Through the voices of pioneering players from the inaugural 2017 squad, viewers will get an in-depth look at these women’s humble beginning, their passion in the game of rugby league and challenges faced as female athletes in a male-dominated sport.

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.

This is the aim of the Oil Search player pathway program, where it is hoped that the partnership between the PNG Orchids and Brisbane Broncos will help change society’s mindset on women.

During the recent announcement of the partnership, Brisbane Broncos NRL Women’s CEO, Tain Drinkwater, said this is a great opportunity to promote female participation.

Drinkwater also sees this a chance to build on and leverage female empowerment in PNG.

From rugby union to rugby league, Amelia Kuk is no pushover.

Women’s rugby league is on the verge of a new era, with the move into a semi-professional environment, thanks to the introduction of an NRL-run competition from 2018, which follows on from the success of recent women’s Tests at the NRL Auckland Nines and 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.

Taking a look at the top 10 female league players in the world right now, PNG Orchids five-eighth Kuk made number 10 for her outstanding performance during the WRLWC 2017.