Dede Sophie

 The Santos PNG Orchids selection process ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) will continue in Port Moresby this week, with 34 eligible players to face off in a trial match on Saturday 13 August at the Santos National Football Stadium to assist with final squad selections. Orchids coach Ben Jeffries will travel from Australia to Papua New Guinea this week to observe training sessions and the match, which are being delivered by PNG-based Orchids staff and Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL). Initially it was hoped that 10 Australia-based potential Orchids players would travel to PNG to participate in the trial match alongside their PNG-based counterparts, but this has been deferred in line with a recent decision by the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) to delay the SP PNG Hunters’ season return to Port Moresby out of an abundance of caution due to national election processes. Instead, Jeffries will continue to consider the selection claims of overseas-based player...

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his delegation arrived in Port Moresby after 9:30am. He’s being accompanied by the Minister responsible for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, as well as senior members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials.  Australian PM Anthony Albanese arrives in PNG  [NBC Photo] Deputy Prime Minister, John Rosso including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko were on hand at Jackson’s APEC Terminal to welcome them.  He received a nineteen-gun salute upon arrival.  Also in attendance are the Chief Secretary, Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu, and Australian High Commissioner, Jon Philp among others.  Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, in a motorcade was escorted to the Government House.  He paid a courtesy call to Governor General Sir Bob Dadae at the government at 10.30 this morning.  Prime Minister Albanese will then be escorted to the parliament where his colleague Prime Minister James Marape is expected to m...