The PNG Orchids squad for their Pacific Championships match against Cook Islands on October 22 has been announced, featuring seven NRLW players, including five from the North Queensland Cowboys.
Inspirational captain Elsie Albert, who had a limited NRLW campaign for Parramatta due to a calf injury, will be joined by Raiders hooker Ua Ravu and the Cowboys quintet of Essay Banu, Jessikah Reeves, Sareka Mooka, Sera Koroi, and Shellie Long.
Albert, a 27-year-old prop, has been a trailblazer for Papua New Guinea players in the NRLW since her move to Australia in 2020.
Banu, Reeves, Mooka, Koroi, and Long all made their NRLW debuts for the Cowboys this season, as did Ravu, who was born in Papua New Guinea and moved to Australia in 1997.