Story by Hilda Wayne Papua New Guinean rugby league player Elsie Albert has made history by becoming the first homegrown PNG export to be recruited by an Australian NRL women's club, the Illawarra Dragons. The 24-year-old, who is also the captain of the PNG national side, the Orchids, told the ABC she had more than one club wanting to sign her. After months of COVID-19 uncertainty, the 2020 NRLW seasons begins this weekend and Elsie has joined the rest of the Dragons squad for the very first time. "I'm just humbled, and I'm just excited that I get this opportunity to play in the NRLW," she said. "I can't really explain the feeling...growing up, watching people like Jonathan Thurston back then when there was no women's league, televised on the TV...watching all these blokes playing and then you would cheer for them. And now like I can, I can't wrap my head around this feeling that I get to play in that same arena". It hasn't been an easy road for Elsie Albert, who only began playing rugby league at university. She signed with Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup at the start of this year, but to do so, she had to give up her university degree in tropical agriculture. "I would say thanks to the girls who came before me...laying the platform. They were the ones who were being ridiculed by ...male folks...when they were playing in the field, people would, especially men, saying that girls are not supposed to play rugby," she recalled. "The big difference that I could see is when we played against England last year...before that most men don't support the ladies playing. And at last year's game...me standing inside the field...I could hear men folks also saying go the Orchids...that meant a lot." Elsie Albert will join several other new players at the Illawarra Dragons, including her friend and Australian Jillaroos captain, Steph Hancock. "They've always been a good side...[for them] to have that confidence that I am going to...provide the skill set that I have for them to...and for the backs to move freely and they see that in me, that's why they signed me. I'm pumped," she said. "I had a few clubs [make offers] but decided to stick with the Dragons". Source: ABC Radio Australia Next : Kumuls Star Mead Eyes New Catalans Deal Comments are closed.
|
Papua New Guinea Kumuls Breaking News & Match Reports and highligntsRugby League News by CategoryBringing all the latest rugby league news in PNG. If you want to contribute to this site with articles relating to sports please contact us here World CupPM'S XIIIDowner Rugby League 9s World Cup- PNG Kumuls 0 Australia 26
- PNG Kumuls 18 New Zealand Kiwis 18 - PNG Kumuls 23 USA Tomahawks 10 Pacific Test Results2019 - PNG Kumuls 28 Great Britain Lions 10
2019 - Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 20 2019 - PNG Kumls 6 Samoa 24 2018 - PNG Kumuls 26 Fiji Bati 14 2017 - PNG Kumuls 32 Cook Islands 22 2016 - PNG Kumuls 24 Fiji Bati 22 2015- Fiji Bati 22 PNG Kumuls 22 World Cup Results
Round 1 : PNG Kumuls 50 Wales 6 Round 2: PNG Kumuls 14 Ireland 6 Round 3 PNG Kumuls 64 USA 0 Quarter Finals : PNG Kumuls 6 England 36
|