World Footy News

The AFLPNG Kurakums, the national under-16 Girls team, will arrive home this week as the Queensland State U16 Girls Champions. They did not lose a game throughout the tournament and the only opposition side to score against them was the other Grand Finalist, Cape York.

In only their second attempt the Kurakums have surprised the AFL fraternity in Queensland by dominating the Under 16 National Championships. Their domination was evidenced by the selection of nine PNG players in the Queensland All Stars Team.

The junior programmes instigated and developed by AFLPNG, and PNG’s integration into the Queensland State Championships, have supported the rapid development of the sport among the juniors. Though PNG has been a traditional Australian Football country for many decades it is still an amazing performance by the girls and perhaps demonstrates the raw talent among the people of the country.

Given women’s footy in Australia is dominated almost as strongly by Victoria as this competition was dominated by the Kurakums it doesn’t seem beyond the realms of possibility that within a few short years, with retention and recruitment, that PNG may have the depth to stand alone and challenge the states of Australia for supremacy and even be able to push the home of the Big White V.

Further to that, with women’s footy also becoming further established in both the USA and Canada it is not too far fetched that within a decade or so there may be an Australian Football International Cup that not only involves an Australian team, but sees them defeated!

Results were as follows:

Game 1
PNG Kurakums 2.4 (16) def Cape York 0.0 (0)
Best Players: Mildred Veau, Osila Bula, Michelle Magae, Sylvia Kotopu Jacobeth Nanege & Samantha Nalong

Game 2
PNG Kurakums 9.8 (62) def North Queensland 0.0 (0)
Best Players: Sylvia Kotopu, Mildred Veau, Barthseba Laisia, Pricilla Iyapeng, Michelle Magae, Chritine Puang

Game 3
PNG Kurakums 4.4 (28) def South East Queensland 0.0 (0)
Best Players: Mildred Veau, Concita Lalo, Osila Bula, Sylvia Kotopu, Samantha Nalong, Winifred Crompton.

Grand Final
PNG Kurakums 5.3 (33) def Cape York 2.3 (15)
Best Players: Mildrea Veau, Sylvia Kotopu,Jacobeth Nanege, Barthseba Laisia, Winifred Cromptom, Oscila Bulla.

All Star Reps: Mildred Veau, Sylvia Kotopu, Winifred Crompton, Oscila Bula, Jacobeth Nanege, Michelle Magae, Samantha Nalong, Barthseba Laisia and Mary Savou

Congratulations and best wishes to all involved from those at WFN.