Australia women's national rugby league team
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The Australia women's national rugby league team, also known as the Australian Jillaroos, or Harvey Norman Jillaroos for sponsorship reasons,[2] represents Australia in women's rugby league. They played their first formal international in 1995 under the administration of the Australian Women's Rugby League. The AWRL affiliated with the Australian Rugby League in the late 1990s, with AWRL reports included in ARL annual reports.[3] Since the advent of the Australian Rugby League Commission in February 2012, the team has been administered by that body and the National Rugby League.
| Team information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Jillaroos | |||||
| Governing body | Australian Rugby League Commission | |||||
| Region | Asia-Pacific | |||||
| Head coach | Jess Skinner | |||||
| Captain | Kezie Apps Ali Brigginshaw | |||||
| Most caps | Tahnee Norris (32) | |||||
| Top try-scorer | Julia Robinson (22) | |||||
| Top point-scorer | Julia Robinson (88) | |||||
| IRL ranking | 1 | |||||
| Uniforms | ||||||
| ||||||
| Team results | ||||||
| First international | ||||||
(Lidcombe Oval, Sydney, 1 July 1995) | ||||||
| Biggest win | ||||||
(York, England; 6 November 2022) | ||||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||||
(England; 18 November 2000) | ||||||
| World Cup | ||||||
| Appearances | 6 (first time in 2000) | |||||
| Best result | Champions (2013, 2017, 2021) | |||||
The Australian Jillaroos are current world champions, having won the last three Women's Rugby League World Cup tournaments. Their first World Cup victory came in the fourth tournament, in 2013.[4][5][6][7] The Jillaroos won on home soil in 2017 and again in the postponed 2021 tournament held in November 2022. Appointed in February 2025, the current head coach of the Jillaroos is Jess Skinner.[8]
Matches have been broadcast on free-to-air networks since 2014 (Nines) and 2015 (Test Match).[9][10][11]
The Jillaroos squad is selected by a panel of national selectors. There are specific tournaments and matches that act as selection trials.[12] These include:
- The Women's State of Origin between Queensland and New South Wales teams.
- The NRL Women's Premiership
- All Stars match
- The National Championships
- Affiliated States Championships (VIC, SA, WA, NT)
Coaches
Full internationals
The current coach of the Australian team is Jess Skinner. After coaching the team on an interim basis in early 2025, Skinner was subsequently confirmed as coach through to the World Cup in October–November 2026.[13][14] Previous coaches have included Paul Dyer, Graham Murray, and Steve Folkes.
| Name | Span | M | W | D | L | W% | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Willard | 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | [15][16] |
| John Taylor | 1996–1997 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 20.00% | [17][18] |
| Mark Donkin | 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Wayne Portlock | 1999–2000 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 14.29% | [19][20][21] |
| Graham Arndt and Damien Lindeburg | 2001 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | [22] |
| Terry Borland | 2002 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67% | [23] |
| Dave Leat | 2003–07 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 50.00% | [24][25] |
| Karen Stuart | 2008–09 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.43% | [26] |
| Graham Murray | 2010–11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | [27] |
| Paul Dyer | 2013 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00% | |
| Steve Folkes | 2014–16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33% | [29] |
| Brad Donald | 2017–2024 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 94.44% | [30][31] |
| Jess Skinner | 2025– | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | [8][13] |
Notes
- Table last updated 10 Nov 2025.
- John Taylor was head trainer in 1995. Player recollection confirmed his involvement as head coach in 1996. The 1997 NZRL Annual records Taylor as Australia's head coach during the four-match tour.[17]
- A report in the 2001 ARL Annual Report records that Graham Arndt and Daniel Lindeburg were joint coaches at a pre-tour training camp.[22] Player recollection confirmed their involvement in Auckland where the one-off Test was played.
Nines
| Name | Span | M | W | D | L | W% | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Folkes | 2015–16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33% | |
| Brad Donald | 2017–19 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 91% |
Players
Current squad
The squad for the 2025 Pacific Championships was announced on 6 October 2025.[32] A revised squad, with two changes, was announced on 10 October 2025.[33]
Jersey numbers in the table reflect selections for the Pacific Cup Final versus New Zealand Kiwi Ferns
Players' ages are as at the date that the table was last updated, 9 November 2025 (after the Pacific Cup Final).
| J# | Player | Age | Position(s) | Jillaroos | NRLW | Other Reps | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dbt | M | T | G | F | Pts | 2025 Club | CM | TM | T | G | F | Pts | |||||
| 1 | Tamika Upton | 28 | Fullback | 2023 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 24 | 50 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 184 | ||
| 2 | Julia Robinson | 27 | Wing, Centre | 2018 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 46 | 46 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 128 | ||
| 3 | Isabelle Kelly | 29 | Centre | 2017 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 53 | 55 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 96 | ||
| 4 | Tiana Penitani Gray | 29 | Centre | 2019 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 72 | ||
| 5 | Jakiya Whitfeld | 24 | Wing, Centre | 2023 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 18 | 29 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 | ||
| 6 | Ali Brigginshaw | 35 | Five-eighth, Lock | 2009 | 29 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 74 | 56 | 56 | 13 | 35 | 0 | 122 | ||
| 7 | Jesse Southwell | 20 | Halfback | 2025 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 7 | 102 | 0 | 232 | ||
| 8 | Ellie Johnston | 25 | Prop, Second-row | 2025 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 48 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 | ||
| 9 | Olivia Higgins | 33 | Hooker | 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 47 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 | ||
| 10 | Jessika Elliston | 28 | Prop, Second-row | 2023 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | ||
| 11 | Kezie Apps | 34 | Second-row, Prop | 2014 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 21 | 40 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | ||
| 12 | Yasmin Clydsdale | 31 | Second-row | 2022 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 41 | 52 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 | ||
| 13 | Olivia Kernick | 24 | Lock, Second-row | 2022 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 47 | 47 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 80 | ||
| 14 | Quincy Dodd | 25 | Hooker | 2024 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 45 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 | ||
| 15 | Keilee Joseph | 23 | Lock, Second-row | 2022 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 16 | Jessica Sergis | 28 | Centre, Wing | 2019 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 36 | 46 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 112 | ||
| 17 | Rima Butler | 27 | Prop | 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | ||
| 18 | Sarah Togatuki | 28 | Prop, Lock | 2024 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | ||
| 19 | Abbi Church | 27 | Fullback, Centre | 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 37 | 37 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | ||
| 20 | Jocelyn Kelleher | 25 | Halfback, Five-eighth | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 51 | 7 | 119 | 1 | 267 | ||
| IJ | Keeley Davis | 25 | Hooker | 2018 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 56 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 | ||
| IJ | Makenzie Weale | 23 | Lock, Prop | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
Notes:
- Two members of the squad have previously played for other nations:
Samoa : Sarah Togatuki (in 2019),
Tonga : Tiana Penitani (in 2023, having played for Australia in 2019).
- Sienna Lofipo was named to play for Australia in the initial announcement on 6 October, but pledged her allegiance to Samoa and the next, day, 7 October 2025 was named in the Samoan squad.[34] Consequently, Lofipo withdrew from the Jillaroos squad.
- On 10 October, the NRL announced two changes to the squad, with Emma Verran as well as Lofipo withdrawing. They were replaced by Abbi Church and Makenzie Weale.[33]
- Six of the 21 squad members have played for Queensland, thirteen for New South Wales. The two players yet to play Origin, Butler and Whitfeld qualify for New South Wales.
- On 31 October, Tamika Upton was ruled out of Round 3 of the Pacific Cup with New Zealand with a calf strain. Abbi Church has been named as her replacement for her Test Debut. Makenzie Weale withdrew from the squad for the remainder of the tournament with a pelvis injury and Newcastle hooker Olivia Higgins was called in as her replacement in the squad.[35]
- The number of squad members with other representative credits are:
Indigenous All Stars 4 (Dodd, Joseph, Kernick, Upton)
Māori All Stars 2 (Butler, Kernick)
NRL All Stars: 4 (Apps, Brigginshaw, Kelly and Verran)
Prime Minister's XIII: 10 (including 2025 players Church, Dodd, and Weale)
NSW City 5 (Butler, Dodd, Penitani, Sergis, Togatuki)
NSW Country 5 (Apps, Davis, Johnston, Kelleher, Kelly).
Hall of Fame
In August 2024 the NRL announced the induction of six former Jillaroos players into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame. This was the first induction of women since the inception of the Hall of Fame in 2008.[36]
| Inductee number | Player | National Team | State Team | Clubs | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Years | |||||
| 127 | Natalie Dwyer | 26 | 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2011, 2013 | NSW & Qld | Wollongong Wildcats, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Souths Logan Magpies | [37] |
| 128 | Katrina Fanning | 24 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 | NSW | Queanbeyan, Gungahlin Bulls, Boomanulla | [38] |
| 129 | Tarsha Gale | 15 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 | NSW | Bulli, South Sydney Rabbitohs | [39] |
| 130 | Veronica White | 17 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 | Qld & NSW | Ipswich Brothers | [40] |
| 131 | Karyn Murphy | 28 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 | Qld | Ipswich Brothers, Souths Logan Magpies | [41] |
| 132 | Tahnee Norris | 33 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 | NSW & Qld | Runaway Bay Seagulls, West Centenary, Burleigh Bears | [42] |
Note: The lists of clubs in the above table is incomplete.
Competitive record
Head to head records
| Opponent | FM | MR | M | W | D | L | Win% | PF | PA | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2025 | 32 | 15 | 0 | 17 | 46.87% | 523 | 616 | 45.92% | |
| 1996 | 2002 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 37.50% | 100 | 111 | 47.39% | |
| 1998 | 1998 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 120 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 2003 | 2009 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 50.00% | 90 | 104 | 46.39% | |
| 2003 | 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 58 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 2003 | 2025 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 142 | 26 | 84.52% | |
| 2008 | 2022 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 224 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 72 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| 2008 | 2025 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 164 | 14 | 92.13% | |
| Pacific Islands | 2008 | 2008 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 32 | 6 | 84.21% |
| 2017 | 2022 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 132 | 4 | 93.55% | |
| 2017 | 2017 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 146 | 6 | 96.05% | |
| 2022 | 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 166 | 0 | 100.00% | |
| Totals | 1995 | 2025 | 67 | 42 | 0 | 25 | 62.69% | 1,969 | 887 | 68.94% |
Notes:
- Table last updated 10 November 2025.
- Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.
Results
Full internationals
Upcoming fixtures
Australia has qualified for the 2026 World Cup to be held in October-November 2026.[160][161] All three of the Jillaroo's pool games have been scheduled within a multi-match game day, albeit separate from the Kangaroos.[161][160] The Jillaroos headline double-headers in rounds one and two, and begin a triple-header in round three.[161]
| Opponent | Game Day | Time | Venue | Ref | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | Date | Format | Local | AEDT | GMT | Sponsored Name | Actual Name | ||
| Friday | 16 Oct 2026 | MW | 8:05 PM | 8:05 PM | 9:00 AM | CommBank Stadium | Western Sydney Stadium | [162] | |
| Saturday | 24 Oct 2026 | MW | 5:05 PM | 8:05 PM | 9:00 AM | HBF Park | Perth Rectangular Stadium | [163] | |
| Sunday | 1 Nov 2026 | WMM | 3:45 PM | 3:45 PM | 4:45 AM | CommBank Stadium | Western Sydney Stadium | [164] | |
| Potential Semi-Final | Saturday | 7 Nov 2026 | WM | 5:55 PM | 5:55 PM | 6:55 AM | McDonald Jones Stadium | Newcastle International Sports Centre | [160] |
| Sunday | 8 Nov 2026 | WM | 5:55 PM | 5:55 PM | 6:55 AM | Allianz Stadium | Sydney Football Stadium | [160] | |
| Potential Final | Sunday | 15 Nov 2026 | WM | 3:15 PM | 4:15 PM | 5:15 AM | Suncorp Stadium | Lang Park, Brisbane | [160] |
Other matches
Nines
| Date | Opponent | Score | Tournament | Venue | Video | Report(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2015 | 4 – 8 | 2015 Auckland Nines | — | |||
| 1 Feb 2015 | 4 – 16 | — | ||||
8 – 7 | [165] | |||||
| 6 Feb 2016 | 11 – 4 | 2016 Auckland Nines | [166] | |||
| 7 Feb 2016 | 0 – 9 | [168] | ||||
7 – 21 | [170] | |||||
| 4 Feb 2017 | 20 – 4 | 2017 Auckland Nines | [172] | |||
| 5 Feb 2017 | 8 – 0 | [173] | ||||
14 – 4 | — | |||||
| 23 Feb 2018 | 26 – 4 | 2018 Commonwealth Championship | — | |||
24 – 0 | — | |||||
| 24 Feb 2018 | 14 – 8 | — | ||||
14 – 8 | — | |||||
| 18 Oct 2019 | 22 – 8 | 2019 International Nines | [176] | |||
| 19 Oct 2019 | 42 – 4 | [177] | ||||
30 – 6 | [178] | |||||
15 – 17 | [179] |
Records
- As of 9 November 2025
Games played: 32
- Tahnee Norris
- Ali Brigginshaw has 29 Tests as at 2 November 2025.
Points scored: 88
Tries scored: 22
Goals kicked: 31
Points scored in a match: 24
- Julia Robinson (6 tries) vs
Papua New Guinea, Pacific Championships, 18 October 2024
Tries scored in a match: 6
- Julia Robinson vs
Papua New Guinea, Pacific Championships, 18 October 2024
Goals kicked in a match: 11
- Tarryn Aiken vs
England, International Test series, 2 March 2025
Margins and streaks
Biggest winning margins
| Margin | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 92–0 | LNER Community Stadium | 6 Nov 2022 | |
| 88 | 88–0 | Southern Cross Group Stadium | 22 Nov 2017 | |
| 86 | 90–4 | Allegiant Stadium | 1 Mar 2025 | |
| 84 | 84–0 | Suncorp Stadium | 18 Oct 2024 | |
| 82 | 82–0 | LNER Community Stadium | 14 Nov 2022 | |
| 74 | 74–0 | LNER Community Stadium | 2 Nov 2022 | |
| 72 | 72–0 | LD Nutrition Stadium | 8 July 2013 | |
| 72 | 72–0 | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 8 Nov 2008 | |
| 68 | 68–0 | National Stadium, Suva | 19 Sep 1998 | |
| 60 | 60–0 | Sunshine Coast Stadium | 6 Nov 2008 | |
| 60 | 60–0 | Suncorp Stadium | 26 Oct 2025 | |
| 58 | 58–0 | North Harbour Stadium | 2 Oct 2003 | |
| 54 | 58–4 | Southern Cross Group Stadium | 16 Nov 2017 | |
| 52 | 58–6 | Southern Cross Group Stadium | 26 Nov 2017 | |
| 52 | 52–0 | National Stadium | 26 Sep 1998 | |
| 50 | 54–4 | Old Trafford | 19 Nov 2022 |
Biggest losing margins
| Margin | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 6–50 | OneBore Stadium | 18 Nov 2000 | |
| 40 | 4–44 | North Harbour Stadium | 4 Oct 2003 | |
| 34 | 8–42 | Carlaw Park | 22 Sept 2001 | |
| 34 | 0–34 | Suncorp Stadium | 15 Nov 2008 | |
| 26 | 12–38 | North Ipswich Reserve | 14 Aug 2004 | |
| 24 | 16–40 | Petone Recreation Ground | 20 Sep 1997 | |
| 16 | 4–20 | International Stadium | 3 Nov 2007 | |
| 10 | 16–26 | McDonald Jones Stadium | 6 May 2016 | |
| 10 | 10–20 | Leichhardt Oval | 23 Sep 1999 | |
| 10 | 16–26 | Ringrose Park, Wentworthville | 14 July 2002 |
Most consecutive wins
| Matches | First win | Last win | Days | Ended | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 5 May 2017 | 14 Oct 2023 | 6 years, 162 days | 28 Oct 2023 | 6 years, 176 days |
| 7 | 18 Oct 2024 | 9 Nov 2025 | 1 year, 22 days | Current | 1 year, 328 days |
Most consecutive losses
| Matches | First loss | Last loss | Days | Ended | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 29 Oct 1999 | 14 Jul 2002 | 2 years, 259 days | 20 Jul 2002 | 2 years, 265 days |
Individual awards
Since 2015 a Female Player of the Year award has been included in the Dally M Awards.
| Year | Player | Rep Teams | NRLW Club | State Club | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jenni-Sue Hoepper | — | [181] | ||
| 2016 | Kezie Apps | — | [182][183] | ||
| 2017 | Simaima Taufa | — | [184] | ||
| 2018 | Brittany Breayley | [185] | |||
| 2019 | Jessica Sergis | [186] | |||
| 2020 | Ali Brigginshaw | [187] | |||
| 2021 [nb 2] | Millie Boyle | [188] | |||
| Emma Tonegato | — | ||||
| 2022 | Raecene McGregor | [189] | |||
| 2023 | Tamika Upton | [190] | |||
| 2024 | Olivia Kernick | [191] | |||
| 2025 | Tamika Upton | — | [192] |
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the interstate match was postponed from June to November, after the presentation of the award in October
- The award for the 2021 Season, which was held between 27 February and 10 April 2022, was tied with duel winners announced.
- Upton played for Australia in October, after the presentation of the award in late September
Golden Boot
Since 2018 an International Female Player of the Year award has been included in the International Rugby League Golden Boot Award.
| Year | Player | Rep Teams | NRLW Club | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Isabelle Kelly | [193] | ||
| 2019 | Jessica Sergis | [194] | ||
| 2020 | Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia[a] | |||
| 2021 | ||||
| 2022 | Raecene McGregor | [195] | ||
| 2023 | Georgia Hale | [196] | ||
| 2024 | Tarryn Aiken | [197] | ||
| 2025 | Julia Robinson | [198] | ||
IRL Rankings
| Official rankings as of August 2026 | |||
| Rank | Change | Team | Pts % |
| 1 | 100 | ||
| 2 | 64 | ||
| 3 | 40 | ||
| 4 | 25 | ||
| 5 | 22 | ||
| 6 | 19 | ||
| 7 | 19 | ||
| 8 | 18 | ||
| 9 | 17 | ||
| 10 | 16 | ||
| 11 | 15 | ||
| 12 | 13 | ||
| 13 | 12 | ||
| 14 | 12 | ||
| 15 | 11 | ||
| 16 | 10 | ||
| 17 | 8 | ||
| 18 | 4 | ||
| 19 | 4 | ||
| 20 | 4 | ||
| 21 | 3 | ||
| 22 | 3 | ||
| 23 | 2 | ||
| 24 | 2 | ||
| 25 | 2 | ||
| 26 | 1 | ||
| 27 | 1 | ||
| 28 | 1 | ||
| Complete rankings at www.internationalrugbyleague.com | |||
See also
Men
Australian Kangaroos
Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
Junior Kangaroos
Australian Schoolboys
Prime Minister's XIII
Women's Governance and History
Women's Teams
Indigenous All Stars
Queensland women's rugby league team
New South Wales women's rugby league team
City New South Wales women's rugby league team
Country New South Wales women's rugby league team
Women's Competitions
- Tier 1
NRL Women's Premiership - Tier 2
QRL Women's Premiership - Tier 2
NSWRL Women's Premiership - Tier 3
Sydney Metropolitan Women's Rugby League - Tier 3
Brisbane and District Women's Rugby League