Albert keen to help

By PARKER TAMBUA
ORCHIDS captain and South Logan Magpies forward Elsie Albert says she is keen to share with Papua New Guinea women rugby league players her BHP Premiership experiences and knowledge.
She told PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka on Fulltime Reserve last week that being the first homegrown woman player to win a contract overseas, she wanted to showcase what the country could offer at the elite level.
“To come and play in Queensland is a great opportunity for me,” Albert said of the state’s premier women’s rugby league competition, which has been cancelled over the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I want to show our women that we can make something for ourselves by playing fantastic rugby league and not just showing our strength.
“We should be proud in what we do.
“For me, to make it here from the grassroots level of the game is great and I am happy for myself.
“The level of footy here (Queensland) is a lot different and I have learned a lot of things.
“I’m learning from some of the best women rugby league players in Australia.
“Stephanie Hancock and Meg Ward are just two of Queensland’s many great players.
“Unlike us in PNG, they’re playing the game at an early age and they know better.
“I feel that I still have more to learn in rugby league.
“When I come back home, I want to share my experiences and knowledge with our women.”
Albert led the Orchids to last year’s Rugby League World Cup Nines in Sydney, Australia, where they lost all their pool matches against Australia (6-30), New Zealand (12-24) and England (4-25).