Palais boosted by return of star Lagona

By HUXLEY LOVAI
THE return of Joanne Lagona to the Palais sevens team is a boost the side need as they prepare for the Hong Kong 7s.
The Palais struggled in the absence of Lagona failing to win a single match while scoring only one try, at the Sydney 7s earlier in the year.
The final 12-member squad also sees the return of Cassandra Samson and Helen Abau.
Although they performed slightly better in minor tournaments in Sydney and Brisbane, the inclusion of Lagona will greatly increase the the Palais strike power.
Palais coach John Larry said the team has struggled with consistency and discipline in their matches.
“We didn’t perform well at the Sydney and Brisbane events. The areas we needed to work on are our re-loads and attack. We were too flat in our attack, that’s why we were not getting the ball out wide to our wingers,” Larry said.
“While on defence we were defending from outside in instead of inside out. Discipline has been a problem for us, most of the time we are finishing games with six or five players on the field with our girls being sent off.
“Our players have been caught out by the new rules which deems a high tackle as being above the shoulders. Our line speed and reloads have to be worked on, other than that our girls can play and are capable,” Larry said.
Larry said the current side had no debutants in the side with all the players having prior experience playing for PNG.
The two Brisbane-based players Gemma Schnaubelt and Yolanda Griffin, who play for Sunny Bank, will add some experience and tactical awareness to the team.
Taiva Lavai will captain the side.
Palais: Taiva Lavai (c), Cassandra Sampson (vc), Helen Abau, Marie Biyama, Lynette Kwarula, Yolanda Griffin, Gemma Schnaubelt, Freda Waula, Geua Larry, Joanne Lagona, Fatima Rama, Chelsea Garesa.