Kiwi Fern stand-off, Georgia Hale will captain her team for the first time in New Zealand’s third and final pool match of the Women’s Rugby League World Cup against PNG tomorrow at 6.30pm (AEDT).

While this is Hale’s first Rugby League World Cup, the PNG match-up will be her fifth international Test having played at the 2015, 2016 and 2017 ANZAC Tests.

Aieshaleigh Smalley also joins Hale as the starting prop for her first international Test in the black jersey. She credits the support of her Otahuhu Leopards team and family in Auckland for being able to represent her country in the sport she loves.

“I’m so grateful to be where I am today, I just cannot wait to run out on the field in front of my family and friends who have flown across to Sydney to support me,”

“My three-year-old son Kayson will also be there to cheer me on so I can’t wait to make him proud,” she says.

If the Kiwi Ferns win their game against PNG tomorrow, they will finish top of Pool B and will play their semi-final against the team ranked second in Pool A on Sunday November 26.

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Kiwi Ferns v PNG
November 22, 6.30pm (AEDT)
Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney

1 – Raecene McGregor
2 – Atawhai Tupaea
3 – Maitua Feterika
4 – Amber Kani
5 – Hilda Peters
6 – Georgia Hale (Captain)
7 – Racquel Anderson
8 – Aieshaleigh Smalley *
9 – Krystal Rota
10 – Kahurangi Peters
11 – Teuila Fotu-Moala
12 – Louisa Gago
13 – Sharlene Atai
14 – Nita Maynard
15 – Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala
16 – Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe
19 – Lilieta Maumau

21 – Ngatokotoru Arakua
22 – Apii Nicholls-Pualau

*International debut