4m agoSun 27 Oct 2024 at 2:30am
The teams are running out
The Jillaroos are followed by the Kiwi Ferns.
It’s a sell-out at the 17,000-seat Rugby League Park in Christchurch, but it’s still filling up as the teams run out.
Gayle Broughton sports the Māori flag. Halves partner Tyla King has the New Zealand flag.
Broughton, mullet flowing in the breeze, leads the haka in her first outing with the Ferns.
8m agoSun 27 Oct 2024 at 2:26am
Jillaroos out for revenge
It wasn’t quite as bleak as the Kangaroos’ 30-0 drubbing, but it was still a painful day for the Jillaroos.
Australia centre Isabelle Kelly, who today plays her 15th Test, said in all her years with the Jillaroos that game was “the one that hurt the most”.
Teams locked in, with gold medallist to debut for NZ
(NRL.com)
A couple of big ins for both teams, with Jillaroos captain Ali Brigginshaw returning from a hand injury after missing last week’s win over PNG. She’s named at five-eighth with Queensland and former Broncos teammate Tarryn Aiken, but it will be interesting to see if she steps into first receiver a bit. Meanwhile, hooker of the year Keeley Davis has been called into the extended squad after Quincy Dodd’s quad strain, leaving Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick as the only member of the Up Front Podcast not included in the squad.
For New Zealand, Brisbane’s Gayle Broughton, an Olympic gold medallist in rugby sevens, is making her Kiwi Ferns debut in the halves. Alexis Tauaneai is also laying her first game for New Zealand off the bench.
28m agoSun 27 Oct 2024 at 2:07am
What happened last week?
In the Pacific Championships openers last Friday night in Brisbane, the Jillaroos and Kangaroos got on the board with victories in vastly different fashions.
The women, while not perfect with the ball, were never threatened by Papua New Guinea’s Orchids. Julia Robinson scored six tries and Jakiya Whitfeld five as they smashed PNG 84-0.
After that, the Kangaroos took down Tonga 18-0, but looked very much like a team still working on their combinations.
39m agoSun 27 Oct 2024 at 1:55am
We’re back!
(Getty)
It’s another weekend of international rugby league action, with the Kangaroos and Jillaroos resume their rivalries with New Zealand today.
Both games will take place in Christchurch:
- Jillaroos vs Kiwi Ferns from 1:35pm AEDT
- Kangaroos vs Kiwis from 4:05pm AEDT
I’m Jon Healy and I’ll be covering both Tests live, so please stick around for what should be another exciting day of Pacific Championships rugby league.