As time draws near for the Prime Minister’s XIII game, PNG’s Orchids and the Australian Jillaroos are geared up and focused on facing off each other in tomorrow’s match at the Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby.
Incoming PNG representative Orchids Coach Tahnee Norris said the girls have settled in well after coming in on Monday and heading straight into training.
Norris said, they’ve had a couple of good running sessions as a team with both the PNG based players and the Australian based players getting along together and training as a team.
She said a couple of girls playing in the Santos cup have been selected to wear the Orchids jersey and she is looking forward to seeing the ladies go up against a strong Australian side, to test themselves against some of the best players in the NRLW as they prepare for the upcoming Pacific Championship.
“Its a really proud moment for me to be named as the Orchids coach. I know it’s the number sport in PNG and I’m excited to be part of it and to see the growth of women’s rugby league over here and how serious PNGRFL are taking the women’s sport over here, it is really an exciting place to be and to coach the national side,” said Norris.
Orchids captain Elsie Albert said, “It’s always an honor to put on the PNG Orchids jersey and I am very much looking forward to this weekend’s game.”
Albert further stated that, preparations are going well with the girls and are ready and fit for this Sunday’s match, “I have confidence in the team that we have and faith in Tahnee’’s selection and we’ll see how we go.”
Meanwhile, Australian Women’s Indigenous All Stars coach Jess Skinner will mentor the Jillaroos side.
Skinner said, they had an early start trying to get the team to PNG and are excited to be in the country as this time of the calendar is an exciting time of the year and are looking forward to the match.
She said, they have a couple of returning girls from last year’s squad like Jaime Chapman and many are new selections.
“We are proud to have women already on the international stage and it’s always good to come to Papua New Guinea and see the Orchids and the PM’s team take the field, they have a great coach Tanhee leading them.” said Skinner.
Skinner said this is the first time they have appointed a female coach and are happy to see more women in league.
Jillaroos great, Kezie Apps, who plays for Wests Tigers, expressed excitement to be here and take part in the PM’s XIII match.
“We love coming over here and I’m just really excited to play on Sunday and it’s a great showcase of women’s rugby league and I think it’s great what Else and Tahnee have done with women’s rugby league have done and it’s so pleasing to hear that its growing and there’s more investment into the sport.”