Strong leadership, collaboration and continued coach education have been identified as critical factors in the growth of women's rugby league in Papua New Guinea following the 2026 Santos Cup Coaches Conference.

One of the highlights of the conference was a presentation by PNG Orchids head coach Craig Sandercock, who shared insights into elite-level coaching, athlete management and the standards required to succeed on the international stage.

Coaches from across the country attended the two-day event in Port Moresby, where they exchanged ideas and explored modern coaching approaches aimed at lifting standards throughout the Santos Cup competition.

Former Kumuls representative and current Lae Snax Tigers Women's assistant coach Mark Mexico said coaching development remains central to the future success of the sport.

"The conference highlighted how important strong leadership and quality coaching are at every level of the game," Mexico said.

"Opportunities like this allow coaches to continue developing their skills and return to their franchises with new ideas and approaches that can benefit players and communities."

Mt . Hagen Eagles Women's coach Regila Wilfred said bringing coaches together created valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing.

"Bringing coaches together from different regions creates opportunities to build relationships, exchange experiences and learn from one another," Wilfred said.

"The level of enthusiasm and engagement throughout the conference showed a genuine commitment from coaches to improving player development and contributing to the future growth of rugby league in Papua New Guinea."

The conference included practical sessions on player performance, coaching philosophies, media engagement and the use of digital analysis tools increasingly adopted by elite rugby league programs.

PNG Rugby Football League acknowledged the support of Santos, PacificAus Sports, KMHL and Digicel, whose continued investment in women's rugby league pathways is helping create opportunities for players, coaches and officials across the country.

Officials said partnerships such as these continue to play a vital role in strengthening the Santos Cup competition and supporting the development of women's rugby league from grassroots participation through to the elite level.