Kuk gets nod to lead Orchids

Oil Search Papua New Guinea Orchids coach Nigel Hukula has named Amelia Kuk as captain of the Oil Search PNG Orchids for tomorrow’s inaugural Pacific Test against Fiji in Sydney, Australia.
The 24-year-old, from the Western Highlands, becomes only the second captain of the national team after Cathy Neap.
Kuk, will lead a new -look Oil Search PNG Orchids Team with 13 debutants in the 18-woman side.
“She brings that leadership, and she brings together the players who are based in Australia as well as the PNG-based girls, by speaking Tok Pisin and also having that understanding of where we are in women’s rugby league and where we want to go,” coach Nigel Hukula said in Sydney yesterday.
“Amelia has a lot of experience and she’ll be backed up well by vice-captain Carol Humeu,” Hukula added.
“She has shown how keen she is to be back with this group of girls and help them to mould together and make a mark for us in this game.”
When told of her appointment, Kuk said: “I’m very humbled to be named captain. It’s a privilege just put on the PNG jersey but to be named captain is a huge honour.
“We’ve got a great bunch of girls who are buying into what we are trying to do here and I can’t wait to lead them out on Saturday.” Kuk became Orchid No.21 when she debuted in the 2017 Rugby League Women’s World Cup against England in Sydney.
She was a member of the Brisbane Broncos women’s team who won the inaugural NRL Women’s premiership last year.
She has also represented the Australian Jillaroos, Queensland Maroons and the PNG Rugby 7s team.
Amelia plays with Ipswich Brothers in Brisbane.
She works full-time as a nurse and in her spare time, on a programme building mental resilience for athletes.
“I would like to thank Nigel and the coaching staff for having the confidence in me to lead the team,” Kuk said.
The Oil Search PNG Orchids take on Fiji at 3.40pm at Leichhardt Oval.