Orchids skipper one of Golden Boot award finalists

By JACK AMI
ORCHIDS captain Elsie Albert was one of the three finalists for the International Rugby League women’s Golden Boot Award, which was won by St George Illawarra Dragons’ Jessica Sergis.
Albert played at the 2017 World Cup in Sydney. She also played the Jillaroos in Port Moresby and two tests against England in PNG.
She replaced second-rower Carol Humeu as the captain of the team for the two-test series. They lost the first test 10-24 in Goroka before bouncing back a week later with a 20-16 win in Port Moresby.
PNG Rugby Football League chairman Sandis Tsaka said he was surprised when he had learned of Albert’s shortlisting for the award.
“This is very interesting news. Since Albert’s appointment as skipper, she has lifted her game to be an enforcer for the Orchids,” he said.
Tsaka said this indicated that the national teams made strides under the sport’s world governing body.
“This paves the pathway for our women to reach the standard set by the Kumuls,” Tsaka said.
“We’re developing the women’s code which is important for the country in terms of gender equality. This is just the start of good things to come and we will be right up there among the top teams in the future.”
Coach Bagelo Solien also commended Albert.
“Our players ever get recognised for such an award. It shows that our development pathways are going from strength to strength,” he said.