Competition to heat up for Orchids spots

PNG Orchids representative Janet Michael says the women’s rugby league competition in Port Moresby has seen many players showing great skills and abilities, which are good enough to earn spots in national team when it is named in September.
The Paga Panthers captain Michael said the standard of women’s rugby league had risen particularly with the international match to look forward to.
“I think there’ll be more new faces in the Orchids team because we’re seeing a lot of talented players in our competition,” Michael said.
The Orchids are scheduled to play the Australian Jillaroos as the curtain-raiser to the Prime Minister’s 13 test match on October 6.
Michael said the Orchids were looking forward to playing the world champion Jillaroos — they played them for the first time last year — and looking to test their skills and to see whether they had improved since their last meeting.
“The name Orchid has had an impact in boosting the morale of players in our competition and it has pushed them to toughen up improve their skills.”
Michael said she was sure the competition for spots in the Orchids squad would be high and that was a good thing for the team.
“It will not be easy for us old Orchids to secure places in the team. We have to work hard to earn our places.
“So my advice to current Orchids players is they must not think that they are senior players, because if they take it easy they can lose their places.”