By Josh Graham at LNER Community Stadium

Papua New Guinea coach Ben Jeffries was left with mixed feelings after an ‘unacceptable’ semi-final defeat to Australia ended the Orchids’ record-breaking World Cup campaign.

The Jillaroos ran in 15 tries in an 82-0 thumping in York in Papua New Guinea’s first-ever semi-final, having finished their 2017 debut with no wins.

Jeffries led the Orchids to two group-stage wins over Canada and Brazil which have helped drive social change back home, but such is the progress of PNG that their head coach believes such a heavy defeat is no longer tolerable, even against the back-to-back champions.

So quick!

Shenae Ciesiolka's scores another try for Australia as they dominate this first half.#RLWC2021 #AUSPNG | @AusJillaroos @bbcsport pic.twitter.com/6UF7OV8g4M
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) November 14, 2022

He said: “We were desperate to score a try but it wasn’t to be. When you get a scoreline put on you like that you probably haven’t turned up ready to play and that’s a lesson for the group.

“We don’t accept that scoreline in our group anymore. The size of the defeat and the scoreline is not acceptable.

“But one thing it has been is a successful campaign. They’ve won two games and changed the face and the women’s pathway.

“They should hold their heads up high as the first PNG Orchids team to play in a semi-final so the standard is set now going into 2025.”

Jeffries admitted his tenure as coach is officially up but is hopeful he will get the green light to continue in the hot seat after a challenging but rewarding World Cup campaign.

The former half-back even hinted that several of his top stars could follow him to North Queensland with the next step in the country’s female progression seeing more players filter into both the NRLW and Women’s Super League.

So quick!

Shenae Ciesiolka's scores another try for Australia as they dominate this first half.#RLWC2021 #AUSPNG | @AusJillaroos @bbcsport pic.twitter.com/6UF7OV8g4M
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) November 14, 2022

Jeffries said: “They’ve been on trial for the last five weeks! I’m pretty confident you’ll probably see a couple of PNG females.

“It’s an easy transition from PNG climate to North Queensland climate. You will see girls out of this World Cup squad go into the NRLW next season, I have no doubt about it.

“My contract runs out tonight but I absolutely want to stay on but where that goes is up to the board.

“It’s probably the most challenging coaching role I’ve had to date in my short career but the more challenging it is, the more rewarding.”

Former Bradford Bulls and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats playmaker Jeffries admitted it had not taken much to convince him to return to England having loved his time playing Super League in the country and he will return Down Under having accomplished plenty.

He explained: “I’ve absolutely loved being back in Yorkshire. They didn’t have to ask me twice to come back to England I’ve got very good memories.

“I was the first one on the plane.”

The Rugby League World Cup promises to be the biggest, best and most inclusive event in the sport’s 127-year history with men’s, women’s and wheelchair teams competing in 61 games across 21 venues throughout England. Tickets are available via rlwc2021.com/tickets