Elsie Albert receives messages from girls back home who admire the career she’s established in Australia.
Albert, the captain of Papua New Guinea’s women’s rugby league team the Orchids, will have many more messages heading her way after signing a two-year contract to join the Eels until the end of 2024.
Elsie Albert has signed a two-year deal with the Parramatta Eels.Credit: Nick Moir
“I get thousands of messages from girls back home asking how I got to where I am now … and I try as much as possible to explain how I got here,” Albert said.
Originally from a small village in PNG, Albert exploded onto the NRLW scene following the Women’s Rugby World Cup 9s in 2019, where she scored against Australia, becoming the first woman from PNG to play in the NRLW when she signed with the Dragons in 2020.
“I come from a very remote area up in the highlands [of PNG]. It’s up in the southern highlands, and if I want to go back home from here, I have to take a plane from here to Port Moresby, from Moresby to a town in Hagen up in the highlands, then take a four- or five-hour drive up to the village, and then walk at least five hours to get to my village,” Albert said.
“Growing up it was a tough childhood, but growing up like that made me want to do better for myself. Coming here and having this opportunity, I see this opportunity as getting myself out from that lifestyle, and I wanted to make better for myself while I am here.”
Elsie Albert in action during the 2021 NRLW grand final.Credit: NRL Photos
Three years into her NRLW career, the 26-year-old has signed her first multi-year contract after such deals were introduced into the women’s game for the first time this year.
“It puts us at ease as players as well too, and not worrying about if we get injured what’s going to happen next for us,” Albert said.
“Signing for two years that gives me a bit of security for myself as well. We have been wanting this for some time now, and for us to finally get that long-term deal is pretty good for the girls and the game.”
Albert carried knee and ankle injuries for much of the 2022 season, which she said meant she couldn’t perform at her best. But she’s had a good season in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership with the Wenty Magpies, and is ready to replicate that form for Parramatta.
Although her family can’t be there to cheer her on when she debuts for the Eels, Albert said they’ll be watching from home.
“I got my parents a screen to watch my games back at home, so they always tune in whenever I play,” Albert said.
“They watched me at the World Cup [in 2022], they had to get up really early, around 3 or 4am to watch the game, so it’s pretty special. Even though I’m not seeing them, I am in the position where I can help them, which is the whole point of me being here.”
The NRLW draw is expected to be released this week. The women’s State of Origin series was announced on Wednesday and will be held on June 1 and 22, the first ever two-match series for the women’s game.
Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
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