The new Foxx in town: Addo-Carr's cousin to carry name on international stage

She carries a familiar surname in rugby league but PNG Orchid Latoniya Norris-Addo is focusing on her own cultural journey as the electric fullback prepares to make her Test debut on Sunday.

Cousin of Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr, the Darwin local met her relative for the first time at the Prime Minister’s XIII competition in Port Moresby last month.

While the PNG fullback shares her indigenous background with the Bulldogs star, Norris-Addo will be representing her mother’s heritage when she runs out onto Santos National Football Stadium for Week 2 of the Pacific Championships.

“Josh, the Foxx, is my older cousin, his dad is my dad’s cousin,” Norris-Addo said at training in Port Moresby.

“We didn’t meet until the Prime Minister’s XIII game a few weeks ago, that was our first time meeting because we both grew up in different areas. That was exciting that the game brought us together.

“My dad is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, he’s Kowanyama, Waiben which is Thursday Island but my mum is from PNG. Her parents are both from Hanuabada.”

Having recently represented the Northern Territory in the Women’s National Championship, Norris-Addo earned selection in last month’s Prime Minister's XIII clash – impressing coach Ben Jeffries enough to be selected at fullback for Sunday’s match against the Cook Islands.

“I've worked with BJ (Ben Jeffries) in the All Stars system, played Nationals with the Northern Territory and spent a season with Wynnum Manly so I guess that’s how I got my name out there because in Darwin rugby league isn’t as big,” Norris-Addo said.

“I was also in the squad for the World Cup also but unfortunately I had a setback there so didn’t get selected.

“It was very overwhelming to find out I had been selected. It's one thing to represent Australia but a whole another thing to represent your culture and your family’s background.

“I really wanted to be a part of that and I’m glad I got selected and made this choice.”

Spending the week in camp with current NRLW players, PNG locals and former trailblazers like Cathy Neap, Norris-Addo believes the cultural experiences and education will help shape the Orchids identity on the field.

“Unreal is the only way I can describe it. Just the passion that everyone has here for the game, you can really feel it when you’re on the field," she said.

“It’s a crazy opportunity that I get to come over here and experience that again.

“Everyone’s been amazing around the camp, they’re very inspiring ladies.

“Especially the older Orchids like Cathy, she’s Orchid No.1, and it’s just really inspiring to have her knowledge around the camp, to hear what they’ve had to go through.

"I think that’s really going to shape the way our team performs come game day.”