Fiji's Bulikula target first World Cup win against the Orchids

The Fiji Bulikula will chase their first Women’s Rugby League World Cup win when they face the Papua New Guinea Orchids at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby this weekend.

The Melanesian rivals head into the match after contrasting opening-round results. Fiji pushed the Kiwi Ferns close with an 18–12 defeat at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia, while PNG beat France 58–4 at Santos National Football Stadium.

The Orchids will look to build on their winning start to the 2026 tournament, while World Cup debutants Fiji are encouraged by the narrow loss to one of the tournament’s top sides.

Bulikula captain Sereana Naitokatoka said the opening defeat had left her side excited rather than disappointed ahead of the clash with the Orchids.

“Going up against the second best in the world and losing only by one try is crazy. We would have been smashed by probably 30-plus, but for us to turn up every single time and lose by one try is amazing. We're more excited and ready to build up for the next game against PNG than disappointed.”

However, player Tamika Jones would miss the remainder of the World Cup after suffering a shoulder injury against the Kiwi Ferns.

A Papua New Guinea Orchids player battles through two French defenders during their 58–4 victory over France in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup in Port Moresby. Photo/PNG Orchids Facebook/

The 23-year-old Australia-based player will return home for surgery rather than travel with the team to PNG.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who's helped me, it's been such a journey. I haven't been here for so long, but it's been such a good bunch of girls, and I feel grateful for all the girls that have run out there,” she said on the Bulikula Instagram page.

Despite the setback, coach Jone Wesele remained hopeful ahead of the Orchids clash.

“It’s an eye-opener for everyone. We’ll take it from here onwards. The Orchids next.”

Wesele described the narrow defeat to the Kiwi Ferns as a statement rather than a disappointment.

“I would say we're taking the defeat as a benchmark for our performance, our next performance, and the ones to come. It's what the girls can achieve in their first outings, and it's truly amazing to see how relentless they were coming against the second best in the world.

“We come into this competition knowing that we just need to do our best and work together as a team, as a group, and that's what they did today. It's truly amazing, I'm truly mind-blowing to see how these girls perform, how they play their hearts out. I'm proud of them and their effort.”

For the Orchids, the focus is on refining their game after a commanding opening win in front of their home crowd.

Orchids captain Elsie Albert acknowledged Fiji’s quality but said PNG’s preparation would centre on their own responsibilities.

“They are a good side, but the main thing is we focus on ourselves and what our job is going into that game.

“For us, it's about us and what we can do and not about them.”

Orchids coach Craig Sandercock said the opening win rewarded the players’ work in camp, with the home support adding to the occasion.

“They've trained so hard since we came into camp and they want to get better, they want to learn.”

Sandercock says “I couldn't be happier for the players because they deserve it.”

He credited the halves’ control, the platform laid by the forwards and the finishing of the outside backs, while identifying video review as the next step in PNG’s preparation.

“I'll look at the tape and see where we can get better,” he said.

The Bulikula–Orchids match kicks off at 3:15pm NZT on Saturday, 24 October.

Elton Lonaratha Jnr, a journalism student at Wintec, is currently completing a six-week internship at PMN News.