From mentor to rivals: Jillaroos on alert for PNG coaching tricks
Harvey Norman Jillaroos star Julia Robinson has warned her team to be on their toes as they prepare to come up against a pair of old friends in Friday's Pacific Championships opener.
Australia will take to Suncorp Stadium to face a Papua New Guinea Orchids side led by coach Tahnee Norris and assistant Meg Ward.
The Jillaroos know the pair well, many in the squad either playing alongside Ward at the Broncos or working under the duo in the Queensland State of Origin set up.
Norris and Ward combined to orchestrate the Maroons' historic come-from-behind victory over NSW in this year's series and the Australian players know she is out to plot a similar result this weekend.
Now the duo are on the opposite side of the fence, Robinson warned her teammates to be prepared for a tough, physical contest on Friday night.
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"PNG are such a strong team," Robinson told NRL.com.
"I love that Meg Ward's coaching the PNG team with Tahnee, I'm sure they'll do a great job with the PNG girls."
Ward is currently in Port Moresby with the PNG Prime Minister's XIII as they prepare to face the Australian Prime Minister's XIII on Sunday afternoon.
The bulk of the squad will then commence the Orchid's preparations for Friday night's clash with the Jillaroos.
Match: Jillaroos v PNG Orchids
Week 1 -
home Team
Jillaroos
1st Position
away Team
PNG Orchids
2nd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Australia assembled in camp on Saturday and are determined to start their campaign on the right foot before they turn their focus to a showdown with New Zealand in Christchurch.
The clash with the Kiwi Ferns will see Robinson take on a trio of her Brisbane teammates, with Gayle Broughton, Mele Hufanga and Brianna Clark set to turn out for New Zealand.
Neta Nu'uausala, Destiny Brill and Jasmine Fogavini have been selected for Fetu Samoa while Ali Brigginshaw and Keilee Joseph join Robinson in the Jillaroos squad.
The Broncos winger has watched her teammates develop throughout the team's charge to the NRLW season and is confident they will return to Brisbane better players.
"We've obviously got a few girls in the Kiwi team and the Samoa team, so I can't wait for them to go play out for their culture," Robinson said.
"It’s awesome for the girls and for the girl's game and for the other countries coming into competition.
"Our girls going into those teams, all the other girls will look up to them as leaders and the role models, so I'm sure the girls will do a great job in the teams."
