'There's a big future': Teen stars on show for PNG women
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Papua New Guinea coach Tahnee Norris has hailed the young talent emerging for the Orchids, with four members of the Prime Minister's XIII team to play Australian still in their teens.
Fullback Fleur Ginn, who plays for the Eels, winger Skaylin Sil and halves Caitlin Tanner and India Seeto are all 19, while centres Relna Wuruki-Hosea, from the Raiders, and Ruth Gende are just 20 years-of-age.
The PNG team also features highly regarded 22-year-old lock Josephine Howard, who plays for Port Moresby Vipers and is on the radar of NRLW team after July's Harvey Norman Rising Talent Invitational in Newcastle.
"We are fortunate enough to have a lot of young girls who are coming through our pathways system," Norris said.
Relna Wuruki-Hosea Try
"I am really excited for them to showcase their skills and what they are going to bring to this team. They are the future of our sport, they are extremely talented young players and I can't wait to see them play.
"Skaylin Sil is a lighting fast winger that I am a bit excited to see how she goes, and Naomi Kelly, another winger based over her, who also plays in the Santos Cup and won the grand final.
"We have got a couple of girls who have just been a part of the Queensland Under 19s Origin team as well.
"Relna has been part of the Queensland pathways and Fluer Ginn also made her NRLW debut this year for the Eels and played some really good footy so she is a real talent.
"We have some really exciting prospects and there is a big future we are looking forward to in the PNG women's space."
PNG PM's XIII Women profiles
Fleur Ginn (Parramatta)
Age: 19
Position: Fullback/Centre/Wing/Five-eighth
NRLW games: 11
Points: 12 (3 tries)
NRLW Debut: Parramatta v Cronulla at Sharks Stadium, 3/7/2025 (Rd 1)
Club: Parramatta 2025
Junior Football: Ipswich Brothers
Junior Rep Honours: Queensland Under-19s 2025
Other information: Won Queensland Women’s Under-19s grand final with Brisbane Tigers 2025
Skaylin Sil (Goroka Lahanis)
Age: 19
Position: Winger
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Other information: Played fullback for Goroka Lahanis in Santos Cup grand final 2025
Named Santos Cup Player of the Year and Fullback of the Year 2025
Equal leading tryscorer in Santos Cup in 2025 (with 6)
Represented PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Relna Wuruki-Hosea (Canberra)
Age: 20
Position: Centre/Wing
Height: 160cm Weight: 72kg
NRLW games: 6
Points: 8 (2 tries)
NRLW Debut: Canberra v North Queensland at GIO Stadium, 24/8/2024 (Rd 5)
Club: Canberra 2024-25
Junior Football: Mulga Tigers Badu Island
Other information: Canberra NRLW Rookie of the Year 2024
Played for Queensland Sapphires in Women’s National Championships 2024
Played for Brisbane Tigers in Queensland Under-19s Premiership 2024
Ruth Gende (Port Moresby Vipers)
Age: 20
Position: Centre
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Other information: Played for Port Moresby Vipers in Santos Cup competition 2025
Represented PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Player Profiles – PNG Prime Minister’s Women’s XIII 2025
Naomi Kelly (Central Dabaris)
Age: 25
Postion: Winger
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Other information: Won Santos Cup grand final with Central Dabaris 2025
Equal leading tryscorer in Santos Cup in 2025 (with 6)
Named Santos Cup Winger of the Year 2025
Represented PNG in Rugby Sevens 2023-24
India Seeto (Brisbane Tigers)
Age: 19
Position: Five-eight
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Junior Rep Honours: Australian Schoolgirls 2023 (from Marsden State High)
Other information: Helped steer Brisbane Tigers to BMD Premiership Grand Final victory 2025
Played for Brisbane Tigers in Queensland Under-19s Grand Final 2024
Caitlin Tanner (Wynnum Manly)
Age: 19
Position: Halfback
Height: 162cm Weight: 72kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: Western Panthers Bundaberg
Junior Rep Honours: Queensland Under-19s 2024-25
Other information: Played Queensland BMD Premiership for Wynnum Manly 2024-25
Queensland Under-19s for Mackay Cutters 2025
Queensland Under-19s for Wynnum Manly 2024
Queensland Under-19s for Central Capras 2023
Elsie Albert (Parramatta)
Age: 29
Position: Prop
Height: 170cm Weight: 95kg
NRLW games: 35
Points: 32 (8 tries)
NRLW Debut: St George Illawarra v Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium, 3/10/2020 (Rd 1)
Current Club Debut: Parramatta v Brisbane at Totally Workwear Stadium, 12/8/2023 (Rd 4)
Clubs: St George Illawarra 2020-22, Parramatta 2023-25
Junior Football: University of Natural Resources and Environment
Papua New Guinea: Tests 10 (2019-22, 2024), World Cup 2021
Grand Finals: 1 – St George Illawarra 2021 (L)
Other information: Parramatta NRLW Player of the Year 2024
Played for Wentworthville in NSW Women’s Premiership 2023
Played for St Marys in NSW Women’s Premiership 2022
Played for Souths Logan in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2020
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2018
Finalist for 2019 Golden Boot award
In 2019 helped PNG secure its first women’s rugby league victory over England
Player Profiles – PNG Prime Minister’s Women’s XIII 2025
Therese Aiton (Western Clydesdales)
Age: 36
Position: Hooker
Height: 153cm Weight: 58kg
NRLW games: 2
Points Nil
NRLW Debut: Parramatta v Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium, 27/2/2022 (Rd 1)
Clubs: Parramatta 2021, South Sydney 2022, Norths Devils 2023,
Western Clydesdales 2024-25
Junior Football: Caboolture Snakes
Papua New Guinea: Tests 6 (2019, 2022, 2024), World Cup 2021
Other information: Debuted for PNG Orchids in 2019
Sister of former Penrith and Cronulla hooker Paul Aiton
Therese and Paul became the first brother-sister pair to represent PNG in 2019
Represented Australia in Under-21 tour of New Zealand 2006
Founded and runs the Hezekiah Sports Scholarship to create pathways for PNG women to play rugby league in Australia
Jessikah Reeves (Wests Tigers)
Age: 24
Position : Prop
Height: 170cm Weight: 87kg
NRLW games: 8
Points: Nil
NRLW Debut: North Queensland v Wests Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium, 12/8/2023 (Rd 4)
Current Club Debut: Wests Tigers v Brisbane at Totally Workwear Stadium, 5/7/2025 (Rd 1)
Clubs: North Queensland 2023, Wests Tigers 2025
Junior Football: Brothers St Brendans
Papua New Guinea: Tests 8 (2022-24), World Cup 2021
Junior Rep Honours: Queensland Under-18s 2019
Other information: Played for Central Coast Roosters in NSW Women’s premiership in 2023
Played for Souths Logan in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2022
Played for Easts Tigers in Queensland’s Women’s Premiership 2020-21
Sareka Mooka (Northern Pride)
Age: 25
Position : 2nd Row
Height: 166cm Weight: 84kg
NRLW games: 12
Points 4 (1 try)
NRLW Debut: North Queensland v Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium, 22/7/2023 (Rd 1)
Club: North Queensland 2023-24
Junior Football: Upper Ross Rams
Papua New Guinea: Tests 4 (2023-24)
Other information: Played BMD Premiership for Northern Pride 2025
Played in Mackay Cutters BMD Premiership grand final-winning team 2024
Represented Indigenous All Stars 2023; Australian Prime Minister’s XIII 2022, 2024
Played for Mackay Cutters in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2023
Played in North Qld Gold Stars’ Queensland Women’s Premiership-winning team 2022
Player Profiles – PNG Prime Minister’s Women’s XIII 2025
Essay Banu (North Queensland)
Age: 23
Position: 2nd Row
Height: 167cm Weight: 97kg
NRLW games: 20
Points: Nil
NRLW Debut: North Queensland v Wests Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium, 12/8/2023 (Rd 4)
Club: North Queensland 2023-25
Junior Football: Tully Tigers
Papua New Guinea: Tests 8 (2022-24), World Cup 2021
Other information: Played in Mackay Cutters BMD Premiership grand final-winning team 2024
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2024; Indigenous All Stars 2023
Played for Mackay Cutters in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2023
Played for Wynnum in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2022
Played for Northern Pride in Queensland Women’s Under-19s Premiership 2021
Josephine Howard (Port Moresby Vipers)
Age: 22
Position: Lock
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Other information: Played for Port Moresby Vipers in Santos Cup competition 2025
Represented PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Delailah Ahose (Goroka Lahanis)
Age: 32
Height: 153cm Weight: 58kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: Goroka Black Pearls
Papua New Guinea: Tests 5 (2017, 2024), World Cup 2017
Other information: Played for Goroka Lahanis in Santos Cup grand final 2025
Named Santos Cup Halfback of the Year 2025
Represented PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2024
Five-eighth and try scorer in Goroka Lahanis’ Santos Cup-winning team 2024
Gloria Kaupa (Wests Tigers Harvey Norman)
Age: 27
Height: 163cm Weight: 76kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: ABS Lopi Sisters, Goroka
Papua New Guinea: Tests 11 (2017-24), World Cup 2017, 2021
Other information: Played NSW Women’s Premiership for Wests Tigers 2025
Played NSW Women’s Premiership for Wentworthville Magpies 2023-24
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2023, 2024
Represented Orchids v Jillaroos 2017
Starred in the Power Meri documentary and travelled to Vanuatu as a women’s rugby league ambassador.
Emmogen Taumafai (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
Age: 22
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: Caboolture Snakes
Other information: Played BMD Premiership for Sunshine Coast Falcons 2024-25
17. Leila Kerowa (Central Dabaris)
Born: March 27, 2001, Mt Hagen, PNG (age 24)
Height: 163cm Weight: 73kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: Kui West Sisters, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea: Tests 3 (2023-24)
Other information: Won Santos Cup grand final with Central Dabaris 2025
Captained PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Played second row for Central Dabaris in inaugural Santos Cup grand final 2024
Represented PNG at Women’s National Championships 2024
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2023, 2024
Studying philosophy and polihcal science, which earned her the nickname ‘Prime
Minister’ among her teammates
Marie Biyama (Western Clydesdales)
Age: 27
Height: 165cm Weight: 80kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: 0
Other information: Played Queensland BMD Premiership for Western Clydesdales 2025
Santos Cup Player of the Year 2024
Played for Central Dabaris in inaugural Santos Cup grand final 2024
Top try scorer and point scorer in Santos Cup 2024
Represented PNG in Sevens Rugby
Emily Veivers (Wigan Warriors)
Age: 24
Height: 165cm Weight: 79kg
NRLW games: 0
Clubs: Wigan 2025; Norths Devils 2024; Easts Tigers 2021-23
Junior Football: Beenleigh Lions
Papua New Guinea: Tests 7 (2022-24)
Other information: Won Challenge Cup and Grand Final in first season with Wigan in 2025
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2023, 2024
Played for Norths Devils in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2024
Played for Brisbane Tigers in Queensland Women’s Premiership 2021-22
Player Profiles – PNG Prime Minister’s Women’s XIII 2025
Mala Mark (Central Dabaris)
Age: 28
Height: 170cm Weight: 57kg
NRLW games: 0
Junior Football: Gomis Bullets, Mt Hagen
Papua New Guinea: Tests 3 (2017, 2024); World Cup 2017
Other information: Won Santos Cup grand final with Central Dabaris 2025
Represented PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June, 2025
Fullback for Central Dabaris in inaugural Santos Cup women’s grand final 2024
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2023, 2024
One of the original Orchids who also played in their first World Cup appearance in 2017
Akerwards represented PNG in rugby union from 2018-2020
Belinda Gwasamun (Mt Hagen Eagles)
Age: 30
Height: 172cm Weight: 75kg
NRLW games: 0
Clubs: Wentworthville 2024, Kunai Sisters, Gomis Bullets, Mt Hagen Eagles 2017-23, 2025
Junior Football: Gomis Bullets, Mt Hagen
Papua New Guinea: Tests 10 (2019-24); World Cup 2021
Other information: Captained Mt Hagen Eagles in 2025 Santos Cup competition
Scored four tries for PNG XIII v Australian Defence Force in June 2025
Awarded Tahnee Norris Medal as player of the tournament at 2024 Harvey Norman
Women’s National Championships
Represented PNG Prime Minister’s XIII 2022, 2023, 2024
Breakout star of the Orchids’ 2022 World Cup campaign, leading to her being signed by
Norths Devils in Brisbane for 2023. Became the first wife-husband duo to represent
PNG in Prime Minister’s XIII in 2022 alongside her husband Brandon Nima
* Player profiles: David Middleton
Rugby League fans across the Pacific are set to be able to watch the Prime Minister's XIII Women's and Men's matches on free to air television, through the PacificAus TV initiative and the NRL’s broadcast partners.
PacificAus TV is an initiative of the Australian Government and is managed by Free TV Australia, and has played an important role in delivering high-quality content that resonates with Pacific audiences since 2020.
The PM’s XIII matches are being transmitted on 17 Pacific broadcast partners - across 11 countries and seven time zones, via:
EMTV and NBC (Papua New Guinea) & Digicel.
Fiji TV, FBC and Mai TV (Fiji)
SBC TV1, EFKS TV2 and Apia TV3 (Samoa)
CITV and Vaka TV (Cook Islands)
TTV (Solomon Islands)
VBTC (Vanuatu)
Kiri One (Kiribati)
NTV (Nauru)
TVBC (Tuvalu)
TBC (Tonga)
BCN (Niue)
