ALBERT TO LEAD PNG ORCHIDS

As the count down begins for a thrilling first match, Australia and Papua New Guinea will face off at Suncorp Stadium at 5:05pm this afternoon to kick off this year’s Pacific Championships tournament, with the Orchids facing a tough challenge against the top ranked team.

The gulf in experience cannot be denied, with the majority of the Orchids side having been selected from national Santos Cup competition which is in its inaugural year, with only skipper Elise Albert an NRLW regular.

However, despite the 50-0 scoreline in last Sunday’s Prime Minister’s XIII match, the Orchids put in a strong showing in the second half to keep the Australian side to one try after trailing 44-0 at half-time.

Australia will be out to show their credentials after posting a loss in their last Pacific Championships game last year and have plenty of talent of show, but won’t be taking the Orchids lightly and know they will be in for a physical encounter.

After sitting out the PM’s XIII match to be kept fresh for the Pac Champs, PNG legend Elsie Albert will captain her country against Australia.
Cowboys duo Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka bring plenty of class to the forward pack while experienced centre, Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and was named joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL’s Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships.
Hooker Ua Ravu represented the Orchids at the World Cup in 2022 and has racked up four Tests for the Orchids. Jessikah Reeves and Sera Koroi both have NRLW experience with the Cowboys.

Australia’s Ali Brigginshaw and Kezie Apps will lead a Jillaroos side boasting three debutantes in starting hooker Quincy Dodd and her back-up Olivia Higgins, as well as bench forward Sarah Togatuki.

Nine members of the side that lost last year’s Pac Champs final to New Zealand are back on deck, including fullback Tamika Upton and chief playmaker Tarryn Aiken, who shifts from five-eighth to halfback.

Lauren Brown was listed among the reserves after suffering a hamstring injury playing for the PM’s XIII but dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Jessika Elliston while Jess Sergis is 18th player.