The Papua New Guinea Rugby League (PNGRFL) CEO, Stanley Hondina together with PNG LNG Kumuls Chairman, Wapu Sonk and the newly appointed Chairlady for the Santos PNG Orchids, Celestine Ove, in a press release, announced the 21-person squads for the upcoming Pacific Championships this October – November 2023.

Papua New Guinea will participate with the PNG LNG Kumuls and the Santos PNG Orchids, playing matches in Port Moresby.

The teams under Head Coaches Justin Holbrook of the PNG LNG Kumuls and Ben Jeffries of the Santos PNG Orchids, are set to field the best available athletes in the sport, competing at the highest possible level and also exposing talent having come through the existing PNGRFL pathways.

Mr. Hondina shared, “With the excitement from the Prime Minister’s XIII and finally having international exhibition and test matches now returning to PNG, we are seeing the different levels of the pathway for our game highlight the ability of our pool of players from the various national championships and now the mentioned matches.”

“Our Coaches have been entrusted to engage and take our teams to where they need to be for these matches and I take this time to thank them for their leadership and wish them the best as they prepare for their upcoming matches,” Hondina added.

The PNG LNG Kumuls will vie for the Pacific Championship Bowl.

Match 1: 15th October 2023 Santos National Football Stadium
Match 2: 29th October 2023, Santos National Football Stadium
Match 3:– Finals TBC- 5th November 2023 at the Santos National Football Stadium

PNG LNG Kumuls

PNG LNG Kumuls Head Coach, Justin Holbrook, will lead his team boasting PNG exports to England, Edwin Ipape of the Leigh Leopards and Wellington Albert of the London Broncos. The squad sees the injection of seasoned Kumul and RLWC Captain, Rhyse Martin, alongside the likes of NRL top performer, Alex Johnston. New faces to the squad include, Jack De Belin next to experienced Kumuls forward, Dan Russell both from NRL side, St. George Illawarra.

The Pacific Bowl series will also likely see PNG Hunters, Judah Rimbu, Junior Rop and Valentine Richard earn their Kumuls numbers as they make their debuts.

Wapu Sonk, Chairman of the PNG LNG Kumuls, said, “We saw an outstanding effort from our PMXIII’s side in September and it is a privilege to announce this year’s Pacific Championship squad, with a high calibre of our PNG players assembling from Australia, England and Papua New Guinea, to fly our flag for the first test match in country, since the 2019 Great Britain Lions match.”

Santos PNG Orchids

The Santos PNG Orchids squad will feature 12 Orchids who have earnt their numbers in the recent 2022 Rugby League World Cup and previous test matches. Whilst 6 have come from the PNGRFL National Women’s Championships which includes two promising talents from the Junior Orchids, Meli Joe and Yolanda Taute. After their performances during their Prime Minister’s XIII weekend match against the Australian School Girls side last month.

The Ben Jeffries coached side will go up against the Cook Island Moana 12:30pm, Sunday 22nd October, Santos National Football Stadium.

Newly appointed Chairlady of the Santos PNG Orchids and PNG Communications Manager of naming rights sponsor Santos, Ms. Celestine Ove, said, “The journey of the Santos PNG Orchids, has been one that continues to see the advancement of women in the sport and this squad highlights and celebrates the progress of our women and girls. Seeing our NRLW and Australian based players combined with the strong upcoming domestic talent and Juniors, is an indication of the evolution of the women’s game and I am proud to be able to share this squad, who will represent PNG come 22nd October.”

The Pacific Championships squads are as below:
2023 PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
PNG LNG KUMULS SQUAD
15 OCTOBER -5 NOVEMBER 2023
1
Alex Johnston
South Sydney Rabbitoh
2
Benji Kot
PNG Hunters
3
Dan Russell
St. George Illawarra Dragons
4
Edwin Ipape
Leigh Leopards
5
Epel Kapinias
PNG Hunters
6
Jack De Belin
St. George Illawarra Dragons
7
Jacob Alick
Gold Coast Titans
8
Judah Rimbu
PNG Hunters
9
Junior Rop
PNG Hunters
10
Justin Olam
Melbourne Storm
11
Kyle Laybutt
Townsville Blackhawks
12
Lachlan Lam
Leigh Leopards
13
Liam Horne
Castleford Tigers
14
Nene Macdonald
Leeds Rhinos
15
Nixon Putt
Castleford Tigers
16
Rhyse Martin
Leeds Rhinos
17
Robert Derby
North Queensland Cowboys
18
Rodrick Tai
PNG Hunters
19
Valentine Richard
Central Qld Capras
20
Wellington Albert
London Broncos
21
Zac Laybutt
North Queensland Cowboys

2023 PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
SANTOS PNG ORCHIDS SQUAD
PNG V COOK ISLANDS, 22 OCTOBER 2023
1
Almah Johnson
PNG
2
Belinda Gwasumun
PNG
3
Bertshiba Awoi
PNG
4
Elsie Albert
NSW
5
Emily Veivers
QLD
6
Essay Banu
AUS
7
Freda Waula
PNG
8
Gloria Kaupa
NSW
9
Jessikah Reeves
AUS
10
Lancy Ulkambane
PNG
11
La-Toniya Norris-Addo
NT
12
Leila Kerowa
PNG
13
Lyiannah Allen
PNG
14
Meli Joe
PNG
15
Roswita Kapo
NSW
16
Sareka Mooka
QLD
17
Sera Koroi
QLD
18
Shellie Long
QLD
19
Sillah Rumints
VIC
20
Ua Ravu
ACT
21
Yolanda Taute
PNG