Norris to break new ground as Orchids coach

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 October 18 and the Kiwi Ferns at Santos Stadium on November 3.

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.