It's the only country in the world where rugby league is a national sport, a dubbed national obsession, yet it wasn't too long ago when the women's side were booed from their own sidelines, fighting a constant battle to gain support from their league-loving country.
But that all changed on Saturday, when Orchids stand-off Shirley Joe scored a last-minute try breaking the 16-all deadlock with England to secure the PNG women's first-ever test match win.
PNG captain Elsie Albert said hearing the crowds erupt in support while chanting the teams name was indescribable.