AFL representative Malabag set to play for Orchids

By JACK AMI
PNG AFL international Lila Esther Malabag, who made the squad after impressing at last month’s national women’s championships, is hoping to play for PNG Orchids squad for the match against Australian Jillaroos at the National Football Stadium on Oct 6.
The 17-year-old of mixed of Western, Central and Gulf parentage was named as a shadow player in the squad that went to Brisbane to play the Broncos women’s side last month but missed out on getting a call up.
Malabag, a convert from AFL this season, made the transition to rugby league and linked up with the Hawks club in the Port Moresby Rugby League.
Malabag plays in the halves.
The pocket-sized dynamo has good kicking game an area where she executes well for the Hawks and the Southern Confederation squad.
Tipping the scale at 55kg and standing at 158cm, Malabag makes up for her lack of size with her speed and skills.
“When I started playing rugby league I did have a dream to play for the Orchids one day so it’s great that I’m so close to that now,” Malabag said.
“Playing AFL at 13 and growing up in that sport and then representing them in the juniors and through the ranks to seniors was really good but I decided to try to rugby league as a challenge.
Malabag said she wanted to keep playing rugby league and to see how far she could go.
She said because women’s rugby league was being developed by the government and its partners more women would be interested to play now.
Malabag said her parents had supported her in whatever sport she played so that had given her the freedom to focus on getting good at her sport.
“I know I have a long way to go and I am grateful to all those people including my parents, coach and teammates who have helped me along the way.”
Since she did not make the Brisbane trip Malabag on several occasions committed herself to training with her local suburb team GYG Estate Kokofas.
“I was encouraged and convinced to play rugby league by my cousin sister Iga Kere who plays for Royals and now with the Kokofas in Central Province Premier League.”
Lila’s uncle and former Moresby North West MP Michael Malabag was proud of his niece’s achievement in rugby league.
She is also teammate with another Hawks player Martha Molowia who also resides at Gordon both are seen as role models in their community.
Molowia plays fullback and travelled to Brisbane with the Orchids in her international debut.
She also hails from Gulf and is the biological daughter of former PNG Kumul Tuksy Karu.
For the duo it is just the beginning and start of better things in their rugby league career in the future.