Women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea has received an enormous boost ahead of the upcoming Pacific Championships with the groundbreaking appointment of Tahnee Norris as Orchids coach.
Norris, who last month became one of the first six women’s players inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame, will create further history as the only female coach of a major international team.
The most capped Jillaroos player, Norris boasts an outstanding coaching resume and earlier this year guided Queensland to victory in the first women’s Origin series.
After being impressed by the talent on display during a recent visit to PNG that coincided with the start of the inaugural PNGRFL women’s national competition, Norris will now take charge of the Orchids.
The move means she is now likely to coach against Queensland captain Ali Brigginshaw and many of the players she worked at the Maroons, including 2023 Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton.
Ranked No.4 in the IRL World Rankings after qualifying for the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022, the Orchids will play the Jillaroos at Suncorp Stadium on 18 October and the Kiwi Ferns at Santos Stadium on 03 November.
All three nations will also play at CommBank Stadium on November 10, with the top two teams meeting in the final of the Pacific Cup and the third-placed team facing the winner of the Pacific Bowl.
‘This a fantastic time to be involved in rugby league and I’m both honoured and excited to be able to work with the Orchids,” Norris said.
“I have seen the depth of talent there is in the country, and I see the passion that the team plays with every time they take the field to represent their nation.
“If we can work hard together and continue to develop as a team, there is no limit on what this group of players can achieve.
“I look forward to starting in the role and getting to meet all of the squad.”
A skilful and hard-running forward, Norris has had an incredible career as both a player and coach.
Named in the NRL Women’s Team of the Decade in 2013, Norris is one of the greatest players of all time having played 13 matches for Queensland and a record 32 Tests for the Australian Jillaroos.
Norris also represented her country in four World Cups (2000, 2003, 2008 and 2013), earning selection in the Team of the Tournament on three occasions.
A skilful and hard-running forward, Norris was co-captain with Karyn Murphy for the 2013 tournament in England and helped lead Australia to their first World Cup win after defeating New Zealand 22-12 in the final.
After retiring in 2013, Norris moved into coaching with immediate success, guiding the Burleigh Bears to an incredible six Premierships in seven years between 2015 and 2021, while taking on the role of Jillaroos assistant coach.
Further success followed at State of Origin level, leading Queensland to series victories in her first year in 2021, and consecutive wins in the 2023 and 2024 series.
Norris was last month honoured for her glittering career by being inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame.
PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina, acknowledged the importance of Norris’s appointment for the game in PNG, while thanking former Orchids coach Ben Jeffries for his commitment to the role.
“Firstly, we extend our thanks for the contribution and efforts of Ben Jeffries as the head coach of the Orchids over the past seasons, including getting the team to the World Cup Semi-Final in 2022,” Hondina said.
“We wish Ben all the success for the remainder of the NRLW season with the Knights.
“Tahnee has had an incredible career as both a player and coach, and we are extremely proud to name her as the new head coach of the Santos PNG Orchids.
“Wherever she has gone, Tahnee has proven to be a winner. As a player she won every honour in the game, and she has taken that winning mindset into coaching where she has continued to have amazing success.
“Her knowledge of the game is second to none and she will bring a lifetime of experience and excellence to this role.
“We believe that she is the perfect coach to help develop what is an extremely talented Orchids squad.”
PNG NRL Bid Chief Executive, Andrew Hill, also believes the appointment of Norris is a major positive for the women’s game in Papua New Guinea.
“Being able to appoint someone of Tahnee’s pedigree and experience to work with the Orchids is another major step forward for the women’s game in PNG.
“We have spent a lot of time looking to create the right structures to make sure the best young female players are able to develop their games through high level coaching and support.
“Having a Head Coach of Tahnee’s standing in the game will give the Orchids great leadership and direction and the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest players and coaches the game has ever seen. We are incredibly excited to have her on board,” said Hill.