Orchids name Albert, Aiton in their squad

DRAGONS prop Elsie Albert and former Eels hooker Therese Aiton are among 16 Australian-based players in an extended Papua New Guinea Orchids squad chosen ahead of the end-of-season World Cup in England.
Aiton was named in a 34-man train-on squad and will play in a selection trial in Port Moresby next month, while Albert has been granted an exemption due to her National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) commitments with St George Illawarra.

Albert is expected to be one of the first players picked by Orchids coach Ben Jeffries for the World Cup after her starring role in helping the Dragons to the 2021 NRLW grand final, played earlier this year.
The 26-year-old, who became the first home-grown PNG player to play in the NRLW when she joined the Dragons in 2020, captained the Orchids in their historic Test defeat of England in 2019.

North Queensland’s Sareka Mooka, Wynnum’s La-Toniya Norris (Wynnum) and Shae-Yvonne De La Cruz from Brisbane Souths have also been exempted from the trial, along with Leeds Rhinos winger Tara Moxon.
Aiton played for Parramatta in the 2021 NRLW competition, but is unsigned for the upcoming season.
She played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the recent New South Wales Women’s Premiership.
The train-on squad also includes former PNG Rugby Sevens international Anika Butler, who played for the Newcastle Knights in the NSW Women’s Premiership.
There is a strong Queensland-based contingent, including Wynnum’s Angelena Watego and Essay Banu, Easts Tigers trio Emily Veivers, Shellie Long and Jessica Carey, and Gemma Walker, Sera Koroi and Jessikah Reeves, from Brisbane Souths.
Moxon is the only player who is not based in Australia or PNG after moving to England at the age of 12 from East New Britain with her PNG mother and English father.
She played for the England Knights in 2019 and was a member of the Leeds team which lost last year’s Women’s Super League grand final to St Helens.
Jeffries said the squad featured the top performers from the recent PNG Women’s Tri-Series in Port Moresby and overseas-based players who had been monitored by coaching staff all year.
“I have been really impressed by the standard of talent we have available to us both in PNG and Australia,” he said.
“Although I was unable to attend the PNG Women’s Tri-Series due to unforeseen circumstances, I watched videos of all the matches and addressed the players several times during their camp.
“I am really excited to see our PNG and Australian-based talent come together in August’s trial match and begin the World Cup journey.”
The Orchids open their World Cup campaign against Canada on Nov 1 at Headingley before meeting Brazil and England in their other pool matches.
“I am excited about the selection because it is a good mix of debutants and returning Orchids players who came from the four Confederations across PNG and which includes our overseas-based players,” Orchids chairman Okaro Yogi said.
PNG Rugby Football League chief executive Stanley Hondina said: “I would like to extend our appreciation to the head coach and his coaching team for their efforts.
“With the challenge of the Coronavirus and others, you managed to put together a team that’s appreciated.
“The concept that was put in place has been fair and every PNG women has been given an opportunity to be selected.
“This trial, which includes the overseas girls, has assisted us not only to get a balanced team but also a quality one.”
Train-on squad: Angelena Watego (Wynnum Seagulls), Anika Butler (Newcastle Knights), Belinda Gwasamun (Highlands Confederation), Bertshiba Awoi (Southern Confederation), Carol Humeu (Southern Confederation), Delailah Ahose (Highlands Confederation), Elizabeth Kapa (Southern Confederation), Emily Veivers (Easts Tigers), Essay Banu (Wynnum Seagulls), Gemma Walker (Souths Magpies), Gloria Kaupa (Highlands Confederation), Janet John (Southern Confederation), Janet Michael (Southern Confederation), Jessica Carey (Easts Tigers), Jessikah Reeves (Souths Magpies), Joanne Lagona (Southern Confederation), Layne Nona-Busch (Ellenbrook Rabbitohs), Leilah Kerowa (Southern Confederation), Lydia Luke (Northern Confederation), Lila Malabag (Southern Confederation), Lisa-Marie Alu (Highlands Confederation), Lyiannah Alleen (Highlands Confederation), Martha Molowia (Southern Confederation), Meli Joe (Highlands Confederation), Michelle John Ikupu (Northern Confederation), Regila Wilfred (Highlands Confederation), Roswita Kapo (Southern Confederation), Sera Koroi (Souths Magpies), Shellie Long (Easts Tigers), Talitha Kunjil (Highlands Confederation), Therese Aiton (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ua Ravu (Riverina Bulls), Veronica Waula (Southern Confederation).
– NRL