PNG Female Talents to Attend Second Consecutive Year at Harvey Norman NRL Rising Talent Invitational

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has announced that five elite female players and two coaching staff members from its domestic pathways have been selected to participate in the Harvey Norman NRL Rising Talent Invitational in Wagga Wagga, Australia.

This marks the second consecutive year that PNG’s emerging female talent has been invited to this prestigious event, highlighting the growing strength of the women's game. The invitational provides a critical platform for players to showcase their skills directly in front of the National Rugby League Women’s (NRLW) coaches and professional scouts.

The delegation, which includes some of the brightest prospects from the Santos Cup and local competitions, will depart Port Moresby for Wagga Wagga today (July 29th) to begin intensive testing and match-play scenarios. This exposure is a vital component of the PNGRFL's "30 x 30” PNGRFL Women’s Rugby League Strategy, aimed at bridging the gap between domestic rugby league and the professional elite level.

Tony Archer, Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the importance of this milestone for the players' development.

"Having our players and staff involved in the rising talent invitational for a second year is a testament to the hard work being done on the ground in PNG," Archer said. 

"This is a unique opportunity for our players to be measured against the best rising talent in Australia and the Pacific. It is a wonderful chance to put themselves on the radar of NRLW clubs. It's an integral component in creating clear visible female pathways and real opportunities for our women to excel on the world stage.”

The participation of a coach and strength and conditioner also ensures that the high-performance knowledge gained in Wagga Wagga is brought back to PNG to benefit future cohorts of the players and the national competition - the Santos Cup.

The participating delegation comprises the dynamic back liner, Jecinta Garry of the Mt Hagen Eagles, 2025 Santos Cup, player of the year and fullback of the year, Skalyn Sil of the Goroka Lahanis, 2025 best winger and PNG Orchids debutant, Naomi Kelly, Best five eighth for 2025 Cynthia Peters of the East New Britain Gurias and Ruth Gende who also debuted for the PNG Orchids in 2025 after coming through the PNGRFL Academy pathways. 

In coaching staff capacities for the invitation, Mt Hagen Eagles head coach, Regila Wilfred will attend as a coach, whilst Goroka Lahanis, Debbie Kaore, attends as strength and conditioning coach.

Speaking on behalf of the playing group, Skalyn Sil expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, acknowledging the organizations and individuals who have helped make the experience possible.

"Thank you to PNGRFL and the NRL and PacificAus Sports for this amazing opportunity. It is an honour to be selected from PNG. Experiences like this encourage us to keep working hard and show young women and girls that they can follow their dreams through rugby league. We are very grateful for the support and belief in us,” Sil said. 

Significantly, this will be the first all-female contingent to attend from PNG and shows the opportunities available for women through the PNGRFL pathways for both coaching staff and players.

PNGRFL extends its gratitude to the NRL and PacificAus Sports for their continued support of the Pacific pathways and for fostering an environment where PNG's female athletes can thrive.

Photo from left to right: Regila Wilfred, Naomi Kelly, Jecinta Garry, Cynthia Peters, Skalyn Sil, Ruth Gende, and Dabbie Kaore.