May 19, 2012

Jillaroos

Australia's National Women's Rugby League Team

Sulusi passes her Test

Jillaroos

FAIRFIELD rugby league star Alex Sulusi has helped the Australian women’s rugby league side to wins over Fetu Samoa and Samoa Patrons XIII in the Jillaroos recent tour of Samoa.

Sulusi, 17, of Cabramatta, kicked off her international career with a 42-14 win over Samoa Fetu in front of more than 1000 vocal fans at Apia International Stadium, Samoa.

The majority of Australia’s tries came from impressive backline movements while Fetu Samoa scored from kick returns and capitalised on Australian errors.

Their second match saw the Jillaroos defeat Samoa’s Patrons XIII 20-16 in a physical encounter. The players faced extremely warm and challenging conditions at Marist College Stadium, Lotopa. Sulusi, who represented NSW in a State of Origin curtain-raiser earlier this year, said she was proud to represent her country for the first time in Test match.

Via the Fairfield Advance.

Jillaroos Test Postponed

Jess Palmer

The test match between the Jillaroos and the New Zealand national women’s rugby league team that was due to take place at Polyfest has been cancelled.

The Test is to be rescheduled for some time in early 2012. As soon as we receive more information, we’ll post it here.

In the meantime, take a look at this profile of Jess Palmer on the Sport for Women Day website.

Jillaroos complete successful tour of Samoa

Congratulations to the Australian Women’s Rugby League team, the Jillaroos who have completed a successful tour of Samoa claiming victory over Fetu Samoa in the Test Match 42 points to 14, played on Saturday 3rd September. Hooker Natalie Dwyer claimed the Players Player award whilst halfback and Captain Karyn Murphy was named Most Influential Player by her team mates for the second game running.

The majority of Australia’s tries came from impressive backline movements whilst Fetu Samoa scored from kick returns and capitalised on Australian errors. Try Scorers: Tui Cope, Ali Brigginshaw, Tegan Rolfe, Jess Palmer (2), Lisa Fiaola, Suzanne Johnson, Stephanie Hancock. Conversions: Natalie Dwyer (2), Stephanie Hancock (3). Tahnee Norris was also impressive in her workload and performance in the lock position. Apia International Stadium played host to a vocal crowd of 1000 who supported both Fetu Samoa and the Jillaroos in the hot and humid conditions. The game was well controlled by New Zealand Referee Daymon Wynters.

The other game saw the Jillaroos defeat Samoa’s Patron’s XIII 20 points to 16 in a very physical encounter on Wednesday 31st August. The players faced extremely warm and challenging conditions at Marist College Stadium, Lotopa. Forward Heather Ballinger received the Players Player award following an outstanding performance. 

The Auckland based Fetu Samoa includes eight former Kiwi Ferns with experience in both codes of Rugby Union and League with ages ranging from 19 years to 41 years. Tammi Wilson another ex Kiwi Fern is the team physio. Captain Luisa Avaiki, former Kiwi Fern and one of the most experienced senior players is looking forward to the clash. “We want to come away with a win. It’s a good chance for our younger up and coming players to experience Women’s rugby league at an international level” says Avaiki. 

Source: ARL press release.

Samoan league test looms for Woodford Jillaroo Tegan Rolfe

WOODFORD’S Tegan Rolfe is expecting a physical encounter when she lines up at fullback for the Australian Jillaroos in a Test against Samoa on Saturday.

Rolfe, 22, has been a regular member of the squad since 2008 and said the side was looking forward to battling Samoa on the Pacific Island nation’s home turf.

“I haven’t played Samoa before because they were in a different pool at the World Cup (in 2008),” she said.

“They’re going to be big and skilful. We haven’t really talked about it that much and we’ve just been focusing on ourselves and getting ourselves right.”

Rolfe said coach Graham Murray had proven an invaluable mentor for each of the players since becoming part of the coaching staff.

“The first camp I had with him was about a year ago and learnt so much in just a couple of hours,” she said.

Tegan, 22, was playing rugby union in central Queensland when she discovered league and joined to make up the numbers.

“I was basically filling in. I was playing union and there was a huge competition on and I went and they were short,” she said.

Tegan joined the Bribie Island Warrigals and feels lucky to be calling that green and gold jersey hers.

“It’s the proudest moment of your life,” she said.

Via The Courier Mail.

Downs trio play for Jillaroos

THREE women who first starred in sport at school on the Southern Downs will line up for the Australian Jillaroos in a rugby league game against the President’s X111 in Samoa today.

Stephanie Hancock, Heather Ballinger and Jo Barrett played for Queensland in a State of Origin win against New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium this season and are again in the Jillaroos team.

The team went into camp at Bishop Park in Brisbane on Monday, before an overnight flight to Samoa.

Barrett said both Ballinger and Hancock were likely to play in the front row.

“Stephanie has been moved from the centres and will handle front row, absolutely,” Barrett said.

Barrett will play in either the front or second row after winning this season’s Queensland women’s premiership with Souths Logan.

Souths Logan won the grand final 40-8 against new team Browns Plains. Hancock scored a try for Browns Plains and was the league’s top try-scorer.

Ballinger hails from Cairns and, according to Barrett, is a forward set to perform well in Samoa.

“She is a reliable player.”

A Test against Samoa will be played on Saturday.

Via warwickdailynews.com.au.

Jillaroos squad named to tour Samoa

Jillaroos

The Jillaroos will play two games whilst in Samoa; Patrons XIII on 30th August and a Test Match against Fetu Samoa on 3rdSeptember. The tour to Samoa plays a crucial role in the Jillaroo’s preparations to face the current World Champions, New Zealand Kiwi Ferns in October on the Gold Coast.

This tour of Samoa also presents former NRL and Origin Coach Graham Murray with his first opportunity to take the reins of the Jillaroos, “I’m really excited about our trip to Samoa. The matches will give us a good indication of our position in the lead up to our Test Match against New Zealand.”

The Jillaroos squad selected to represent Australia are: Bianca Ambrum (Cairns), Heather Ballinger (Cairns), Joanne Barrett (Brisbane), Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane), Tui Cope (Brisbane), Chloe Caldwell (Sydney), Natalie Dwyer (Brisbane), Erin Elliott (Brisbane), Lisa Fiaola (Sydney), Stephanie Hancock (Brisbane), Suzanne Johnson (Brisbane), Renae Kunst (Brisbane), Karyn Murphy (Brisbane), Tahnee Norris (Brisbane), Jess Palmer (Sydney), Tegan Rolfe (Rockhampton), Alex Sulusi (Sydney), Julie Young (Newcastle), Rebecca Young (Newcastle).

Via ARL press release.

Sister act for league internationals

NEWCASTLE sisters-in-law Rebecca and Julie Young will soon be able to add the tag ‘‘dual internationals’’ to their list of sporting achievements.

Both women have been named in the Australian Jillaroos rugby league squad to tour Samoa in two weeks. Rebecca was a member of the 2006 Australian Women’s Rugby Union World Cup side as a hard-running centre, while Julie has represented her country in Oztag.

After having time away from sport to have a baby last September, Rebecca, pictured at left, was approached at the annual Aboriginal knockout tournament to trial for the Indigenous All Stars, along with Julie.

State selection quickly followed their first year of competitive rugby league and they found themselves running onto Suncorp Stadium before State of Origin I.

‘‘It really is a cauldron atmosphere, and we were as unpopular as the men’s side,’’ Rebecca said.

The Jillaroos will play the Samoan Patrons XIII on Tuesday then a Test against Fetu Samoa the following Saturday.

All the Jillaroos will be eager to impress to earn a spot for the clash with the world champions, the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns, on October 15 on the Gold Coast.

Read the rest at the Newcastle Herald.

Jillaroos Squad Named – League

The Australian Women’s Rugby League (AWRL) have today announced the Jillaroos squad that will contest the women’s 2008 World Cup to be played later this year.

2008 Women’s World Cup squad

Teresa ANDERSON – QLD
Nicole BACKHOUSE – NSW
Tracey BAILEY – QLD
Joanne BARRETT – QLD
Jamie BLAZEJEWSKI – NSW
Teina CLARK – NSW
Melissa EDWARDS – QLD
Erin ELLIOTT – QLD
Lisa FIAOLA – NSW
Neena FRASER – QLD
Stephanie HANCOCK – QLD
Suzanne JOHNSON – QLD
Renae KUNST – QLD
Denise McGRATH – NSW
Karyn MURPHY – QLD
Tahnee NORRIS – QLD
Jess PALMER – NSW
Kylie PENNELL – NSW
Tegan ROLFE – QLD
Amie SOLOMONA – QLD
Deanna TURNER – QLD
Tarah WESTERA – QLD
Elianna WILSON – NSW

The squad was announced after the completion of the Women’s State of Origin held in Brisbane over the weekend. The Queenslanders took out the Cup 2 games to for the 6th year running.

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