As strength and conditioning coach for Papua New Guinea’s national women’s cricket side, the Lewas, Anthea Murray’s swimming background has helped inform much of the training she passes on to athletes.
“Swimming taught me discipline, structure and the value of repetition. In cricket, it’s the same. Every sprint, every lift, every recovery session has to serve a purpose,” she said.
“I bring that athlete mindset into my coaching, and I think my athletes see that I’ve been in their shoes.”
Her sporting journey began with the support of her mother Mary Mopio who always dreamed of seeing Anthea representing Papua New Guinea in swimming.
The Sir Donald Pool was only a 10 minute walk from where they lived and she trained consistently from a young age.
“Mum encouraged me to think big and commit myself fully to the sport,” Murray said.
By the age of nine she was already representing PNG and at the Arafura Games she earned a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke — her first taste of international competition.
“It exposed me to a higher level of performance and professionalism and made me realise what it truly takes to compete with the best,” she says.
A scholarship to train in Queensland soon followed, immersing her in a high-performance environment that left a lasting imprint.
“Training alongside talented athletes and under experienced coaches really opened my eyes to how much detail goes into preparation from recovery, to conditioning, to mental discipline,” Murray said.Â
From the pool to the pitch
Murray’s transition from athlete to coach came from a desire to give back as she understood through her own sports journey what it was like to be an athlete with big dreams but limited support systems in PNG.
“When I was introduced to strength and conditioning, I realised I could help athletes bridge that gap by giving them the tools, structure and physical preparation they need to excel internationally,” she said.
“Cricket PNG gave me that platform and it felt like the perfect fit.”
Through persistence and sacrifice, Murray was able to earn her Austalian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) Level one and later Level two strength and conditioning accreditations.
She was fortunate to have support from the PNG Olympic Committee, Cricket PNG and Cricket Australia. Their backing helped her upskill, network and bring international standards back into the PNG system.
Representation for women in Sport
In a field still dominated by men, Murray recognises that being one of the few women in high-performance coaching has its challenges but also gives her the chance to show that women belong in these roles.
It’s a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.
“Representation is powerful, and if my journey can inspire even one young woman to take up coaching or sport science, it’s worth it,” she said.
Murray has seen encouraging change within Cricket PNG in the form of more investment into the women’s game, stronger support structures and acknowledgement of female coaches and leaders.
She acknowledges that while there’s still progress to be made the momentum is there and her ambitions don’t stop at cricket.
Murray’s long-term vision is to establish a high-performance institute in PNG a hub for athletes across all sports.
“Too often, our athletes don’t get the resources they need until they go overseas. My dream is to change that,” she said.
“It’s ambitious, but it’s something PNG sport truly needs.”
Murray has already started laying the groundwork by building partnerships, developing programs so she can lead such an initiative in the future.
To young women considering a career in coaching or sport science, her advice is both practical and empowering.
“Back yourself. It won’t always be easy, but if you’re passionate, prepared to learn and willing to step outside your comfort zone, opportunities will open up,” Murray said.
“Surround yourself with mentors, seek out education and don’t let the fact that you’re a woman in a male-dominated field hold you back. Your perspective is valuable, and PNG sport needs more of it.”