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Jillaroos v Orchids: Brigginshaw ruled out; Albert leads the way

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Australia and Papua New Guinea face off at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night to launch this year's Pacific Championships tournament, with the Orchids facing a tough challenge against the top ranked team.

The gulf in experience cannot be denied, with the majority of the Orchids side having been selected from national Santos Cup competition which is in its inaugural year, with only skipper Elise Albert an NRLW regular. 

However, despite the 50-0 scoreline in last Sunday's Prime Minister's XIII match, the Orchids put in a strong showing in the second half to keep the Australian side to one try after trailing 44-0 at half-time. 

Australia will be out to show their credentials after posting a loss in their last Pacific Championships game last year and have plenty of talent of show, but won't be taking the Orchids lightly and know they will be in for a physical encounter. 

Team News

Jillaroos: A late change for the Jillaroos with co-captain Ali Brigginshaw ruled out as she continues to recover from finger surgery. A backline reshuffle sees Jess Sergis come into the starting side in jersey No.18 in the centres and Tiana Penitani move to five-eighth. Abbi Church is now the 18th player. Kezie Apps will lead a Jillaroos side boasting three debutants in starting hooker Quincy Dodd and her back-up Olivia Higgins, as well as bench forward Sarah Togatuki. Eight members of the side that lost last year's Pac Champs final to New Zealand are back on deck, including fullback Tamika Upton and chief playmaker Tarryn Aiken, who shifts from five-eighth to halfback. Lauren Brown was listed among the reserves after suffering a hamstring injury playing for the PM's XIII but dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Jessika Elliston.

Orchids: The Orchids are 1-17 with no late changes. After sitting out the PM's XIII match to be kept fresh for the Pac Champs, PNG legend Elsie Albert will captain her country against Australia. Cowboys duo Essay Banu and Sareka Mooka bring plenty of class to the forward pack while experienced centre Belinda Gwasamun has been playing with Wentworthville Magpies and was named joint winner of the Tahnee Norris Medal at the NRL’s Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships. Hooker Ua Ravu represented the Orchids at the World Cup in 2022 and has racked up four Tests for the Orchids. Jessikah Reeves and Sera Koroi both have NRLW experience with the Cowboys. Lilah Malabag is the 18th player.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Jillaroos is number 1 Tamika Upton
    Fullback for PNG Orchids is number 1 Mala Mark
  • Winger for Jillaroos is number 2 Julia Robinson
    Winger for PNG Orchids is number 2 Freda Waula
  • Centre for Jillaroos is number 3 Isabelle Kelly
    Centre for PNG Orchids is number 3 Belinda Gwasamun
  • Centre for Jillaroos is number 18 Jessica Sergis
    Centre for PNG Orchids is number 4 La-Toniya Norris-Addo 
  • Winger for Jillaroos is number 5 Jakiya Whitfeld
    Winger for PNG Orchids is number 5 Lyiannah Allen
  • Five-Eighth for Jillaroos is number 4 Tiana Penitani
    Five-Eighth for PNG Orchids is number 6 Sera Koroi
  • Halfback for Jillaroos is number 7 Tarryn Aiken
    Halfback for PNG Orchids is number 7 Delailah Ahose

Forwards

  • Prop for Jillaroos is number 8 Millie Elliott
    Prop for PNG Orchids is number 8 Essay Banu
  • Hooker for Jillaroos is number 9 Quincy Dodd
    Hooker for PNG Orchids is number 9 Ua Ravu
  • Prop for Jillaroos is number 10 Shannon Mato
    Prop for PNG Orchids is number 10 Elsie Albert
  • 2nd Row for Jillaroos is number 11 Kezie Apps
    2nd Row for PNG Orchids is number 11 Sareka Mooka
  • 2nd Row for Jillaroos is number 12 Yasmin Clydsdale
    2nd Row for PNG Orchids is number 12 Emily Veivers
  • Lock for Jillaroos is number 13 Simaima Taufa
    Lock for PNG Orchids is number 13 Gloria Kaupa

Interchange

  • Interchange for Jillaroos is number 14 Olivia Higgins
    Interchange for PNG Orchids is number 14 Roswita Kapo
  • Interchange for Jillaroos is number 15 Sarah Togatuki
    Interchange for PNG Orchids is number 15 Jessikah Reeves
  • Interchange for Jillaroos is number 16 Keilee Joseph
    Interchange for PNG Orchids is number 16 Talitha Kunjil
  • Interchange for Jillaroos is number 17 Mahalia Murphy
    Interchange for PNG Orchids is number 17 Leila Kerowa

Reserves

  • Replacement for Jillaroos is number 19 Abbi Church
    Replacement for PNG Orchids is number 18 Lilah Malabag

Match Officials

  • Referee: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Peter Gough

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Jillaroos have lost only one of their past 15 Test matches.
  • The Orchids have won four of their past six Tests.
  • Jillaroos centre Isabelle Kelly has scored 14 tries in 13 Test matches.
  • Orchids centre Belinda Gwasamun has scored six tries in seven Test appearances.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

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