Orchids banking on experience to boost Cup campaign

THE national women’s rugby league team will count on the experience of surviving players from the 2017 World Cup, for the upcoming edition of the showpiece event, says an official.
Papua New Guinea Orchids coach Ben Jeffries told The National last week that they would provide calm and composure among the rookies in England, where the end-of-year World Cup would be played.
The surviving players are Caro Humeu, Shirley Joe, Gloria Kaupa, Veronica Waula and Janet Michael.
Orchids skipper Elsie Albert is expected to make the final cut despite the St George Illawarra Dragons prop not being named in the 34-man train-on squad due to her National Rugby League Women’s commitments.
“When selecting a squad for a major tournament, you always need a balance of experience and youth,” Jeffries said.
“Having experience allows you to draw on involvements when pressure is applied.”
Jeffries said the bulk of his train-on squad were young, but he was confident in their abilities.
“When you add youth to a squad, what they bring is excitement and enthusiasm,” he said.
“But when we get to the United Kingdom (UK), to my knowledge, no Australian or PNG-based player has had the experience of playing and living in those conditions.”
Meanwhile, Jeffries said he was confident that his Australian-based players would combine well with the squad’s local talents.
“We’re confident and expect that all players Australian-based players will bond well with the local women,” he said.
“This will also be a crucial piece to our selections. If we’re to be together in the UK for five weeks, the team dynamics will be crucial to how we perform.
“The environment that is initially created usually transfers onto the playing field. This is one area that won’t go unnoticed.
“The staff employed for the World Cup campaign will certainly assist in making this happen.
“The playing group will have good people among them consistently. That was one aspect that was considered when assembling staff members especially since we have a balance of PNG and Australian-based professionals,” Jeffries said.