<![CDATA[Papua New Guinea Kumuls

<![CDATA[Papua New Guinea Kumuls - PNG Orchids]]>Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:58:04 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[MEET THE ORCHIDS - Lisa-Marie Alu: The Jiwaka Connection]]>Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:21:31 GMThttps://kumuls.pngfacts.com/png-orchids/meet-the-orchids-lisa-marie-alu-the-jiwaka-connection

Lisa-Marie Alu

Santos PNG Orchids debutant Lisa-Marie Alu will be one to watch at the Rugby League World Cup. The 25-year-old was named player of the match in the Orchids’ #RLWC2021 warm-up clash against York after a two-try performance and impressive defensive display.
Lisa-Marie, who hails from Jiwaka but lives in Port Moresby, put herself on the radar of the Orchids’ nationwide selection process in early 2022 with impressive performances in multiple tournaments. But, even before this development in her rugby league career, she was already making an impact in her home province.

She explains: “Last Christmas I went home to Jiwaka and joined a group of women there to put a team together for a tournament in the Highlands. About 20 of us spent a month together in camp staying at one of the player’s houses, training and cooking together. Most of the girls didn’t study or work, so this was something new for them, and I taught them different rugby league skills every day.”
Inspired by her father, who was one of the first players for Waghi Tumbe (Jiwaka's Digicel Cup team) when it was formed, Lisa-Marie is keen to take a leadership role in developing the women’s game in her region.
“Women’s rugby league is in its early stages in Jiwaka – they like playing but they lack knowledge and skills. I would like to go back there after this World Cup and do more development. Maybe next year we can start a women’s league in Minj. They are really talented women, they can run faster than me, so I’m confident there are lots of future Orchids there if we can identify and train them.”
#YumiPNG Asia Pacific Rugby League International Rugby League

Next : Santos PNG Orchids Captain Elsie Albert Needs Little Introduction

]]><![CDATA[Santos PNG Orchids captain Elsie Albert needs little introduction]]>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 01:47:48 GMThttps://kumuls.pngfacts.com/png-orchids/santos-png-orchids-captain-elsie-albert-needs-little-introduction

Spurred on by watching the Orchids’ international debut at RLWC2017, she took up rugby league in 2018 and was selected to represent her country later that year. The Southern Highlander captained the Orchids in the 2019 test series against England, raising her international profile and earning a professional contract with St George Illawarra Dragons in the NRLW – the first PNG-based woman to do so. Elsie has now played three seasons of NRLW, including one Grand Final, with the Dragons, and will again captain the Orchids at #RLWC2021.
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It's an honour for me to be given the opportunity to captain my country but this time on the World Cup stage,” Elsie says. “In 2017 when I watched the girls playing in their first ever World Cup, it was pioneer Orchids like Cathy Neap and Della Audama (now Orchids assistant coach) who inspired me.
“Now, I think me being in the NRLW system inspires the girls back home. I get a lot of messages saying, ‘seeing you play inspires us to get our boots on and get onto the field’.
“When I run out as captain, I think about the girls back home who are inspired by me to play rugby league or are sitting at home not knowing what to do…it’s about inspiring the next generation of girls to play rugby league, or those who want to do things in other male-dominated areas. If you put your mind and hard work into anything, you can achieve it.”

PNG Orchids Media

Next : Women's Rugby League World Cup Set

]]><![CDATA[Women's Rugby League World Cup set]]>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 01:37:27 GMThttps://kumuls.pngfacts.com/png-orchids/womens-rugby-league-world-cup-setThe Women's Rugby League World is set and ready to kick of on this week Tuesday.

PNG Captain Albert [third from left] with captains of the eight teams

PNG Orchids take on Canada their first match.

Photo by Rugby Leauge World Cup official

Next: MEET THE ORCHIDS – Jessikah Reeves: Honouring My Family

]]><![CDATA[MEET THE ORCHIDS – Jessikah Reeves: Honouring my Family]]>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 01:31:22 GMThttps://kumuls.pngfacts.com/png-orchids/meet-the-orchids-jessikah-reeves-honouring-my-family

Jessikah Reeves grew up in Brisbane with the PNG side of her family, but it has been a call-up to the Orchids that has helped her realise how much PNG has been a part of her life.
The 21-year-old forward, who was a non-playing member of the Brisbane Broncos NRLW squad for the 2021 season, was persuaded to explore representing her PNG heritage by former Brisbane Tigers club teammate, Orchid #42 Angela Watego.

Jessikah explains: “My Dad is from Rabaul and grew up there before moving to Australia. When I met Angela playing footy, she encouraged and persuaded me to become more open about my PNG heritage and helped build confidence in me to strive for an Orchids jersey to make Dad and family proud.
“My Grandma (his mother) lives with our family and, growing up in Brisbane, I used to spend time with her and some of her PNG friends. At the time I never realised how much Tok Pisin I was learning, but when I got into camp with the Orchids this year, I couldn’t believe how much I knew already from back then.”
Despite having represented Queensland at U18 level, Jessikah says being around her PNG teammates is even more special. “It’s a different kind of love for a team when they’re all from the same place as my family.”

PNG Orchid Media

Next : MEET THE ORCHIDS – Sera Koroi: It Takes A Village

]]><![CDATA[MEET THE ORCHIDS – Sera Koroi: It Takes a Village]]>Sun, 30 Oct 2022 01:24:25 GMThttps://kumuls.pngfacts.com/png-orchids/meet-the-orchids-sera-koroi-it-takes-a-village

Sera Koroi

When Sera Koroi found out she was pregnant in mid-2021, she thought her long-held dream to represent the Orchids at a Rugby League World Cup was over, with the tournament scheduled for November that year. But a 12-month postponement left the door ajar for Sera, whose mother is from New Ireland Province and whose father is from Fiji, to play for PNG after all.
Sera explains: “When I got pregnant, it was God’s plan for me. I really trusted that no matter what. Then when the tournament got postponed, I thought it was meant to be. Before I knew I was pregnant, I actually injured my angle which forced me to stop playing, which was His way of taking me out of the sport and making sure my son would be healthy.
“After I had my son Viliame on 28 October 2021, it was pretty hard because I had a C-section, and I knew that would delay my return to rugby league. But I started training again after three months and my club coach at Souths Logan Magpies in Brisbane, Maia Tua-Davidson, was very supportive.”

With Viliame celebrating his first birthday this week and 20-year-old Sera joining him via video call from the Orchids’ RLWC base in Leeds, she admits it has been a tough time to be away, but made easier by the support of her family.
“I would not be here without my parents – they and my three younger siblings are taking care of my son. My parents have always been 100 per cent supportive because they know I can make a career out of rugby league. We always agreed that I would play in RLWC if I could get selected, and they will continue to support me as I try to earn an NRLW contract.
“They say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and this is certainly true in my family.”

by PNG Orchids Media

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