Latoniya Norris, Ana Malupo among NT players selected for national teams
Territory women are starring in the rugby league space with five young standouts selected to represent national teams. Read who they will be playing for.
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NRL NT women have continued to excel on the national stage with five picked to represent different national teams in the coming weeks.
Latoniya Norris (PNG), Ana Malupo (Tonga), Ilisapeci Bari, Abigayle Sekitoga and Nanise Vakacavu (all Fiji) may all get the chance to pull on their national colours after winning recognition.
Each of them have excelled in either the local league, representative outings or other state competitions in recent years and their dedication to the sport has paid off.
NRL NT pathways manager Duncan MacGillivray said the success proved players from the NT could progress to the very top level.
“It’s amazing, all these players have come through in our Territory team that has played in nationals,” he said.
“It shows these younger girls there’s the opportunity to represent at the top level or move into the NRLW pathways after coming from here.”
Norris has been a standout in the NRL NT women’s competition for a number of years and got her initial call-up to the PNG Orchids for the Prime Minister’s Cup in 2023.
She is a vice-captain at Darwin Brothers locally, where she has won the Gaynor Maggs medal and is frequently leading the try scoring count off the back of her skills with ball in hand.
“She is one of the stalwarts of the game in the Territory and went and had a trial and train for the Cowboys with the possibility of going back next year,” MacGillivray said.
“She has been dominant in the local competition for a long time and even as a young girl showed a lot of potential.
“On top of that she is just a lovely person and a fantastic leader, all the girls love her.”
Malupo has been a big performer in recent years since moving to Queensland, where she has excelled and also been given a chance at the Cowboys, where she will play again next year.
The 19-year-old Northern Sharks junior will take her biggest step in her junior as she joins Tonga for the Pacific Championship.
“She’s really good, she’s quite tall for a rugby league player, but plays a bit of full back and in the halves,” MacGillivray
“She has loads of skill, is a very good defender, has the speed to match anyone and is a great talker and leader.”
Meanwhile, Bari, Sekitoga and Vakacavu have all been selected for the Fijian outfit after tremendous dedication to their craft in recent years.
Bari started playing the game while living on the Tiwi Islands and has become one to watch with her reliability in defence and strong carries.
Vakacavu is one of the Nightcliff Dragons faithful and served the club for a long before getting a chance with the Canterbury Bulldogs.
And Sekitoga has been one of the Top End’s better players for a long time and continues to impress while playing interstate.
“Bari came away with us on rep duty and was just outstanding,” MacGillivray said.
“She’s strong and reliable, she plays very tough with a strong carry in attack and she is a very technical defender.
“Nanise has been in the Bulldogs system for a couple of years, has played the Tasha Gale and is now looking at going a bit further now they have a NRLW side. She’s an outstanding centre.
“Abigayle has always been a dominant player in our local competition. She came through our rep squads and is now with the Canterbury Bulldogs, but she has been one of our better players for a number of years.”
Meanwhile Jazmin Lordy has made the Dolphins women’s development squad and Nelly Thomas has returned for a second trial with the Parramatta Eels.
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