With Dally M stars snubbed and a player outside the original squad suddenly earning a start in the Pacific Championships final, the dominant Jillaroos are yet to lock in their perfect team for next year’s World Cup.
Despite an undefeated run to the trophy, Australia never fielded the same starting side.
With the World Cup less than a year away, coach Jess Skinner has plenty of locks for her squad but also a few big questions.
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Here is the current state of play.
FULLBACK
Incumbent: Tamika Upton
Contenders: Abbi Church, Jakiya Whitfield
Analysis: Abbi Church was a late addition to the Pac Champs squad but quick to make an impact, slotting in as starting fullback during round two for an injured Tamika Upton and winning player of the match. She ran for 161m and scored the match-winning try on debut.
The 27-year-old looked at home in Test football, giving her a strong chance of making Australia’s World Cup squad, while Jakiya Whitfield has the ability to play both fullback and wing. As for the No.1 jersey though, no one will get near it while dual Dally M Medallist Tamika Upton remains in this kind of form.
Early verdict: Tamika Upton
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WING
Incumbent: Julia Robinson and Jakiya Whitfeld
Contenders: Jess Sergis, Jaime Chapman, Sheridan Gallagher
Analysis: Having debuted for the Jillaroos in 2018, Julia Robinson had arguably her greatest Test series yet as she made headlines with her ‘Superman’ try in round two, followed up with another impressive leaping try in the final, earning her player of the match. Unless there’s a desire to slot her into the centres, where she got a Dally M positional gong this NRLW season, she’s a lock for one wing spot.
One of the biggest surprises from the Pacific Championships final was Skinner’s decision to place Roosters’ centre Jess Sergis on the interchange, to slot into edge backrow, with Jakiya Whitfeld preferred on the wing.
Sergis was strong in her makeshift role and had an impressive Test series, which included four tries across the three games. It would be no surprise at all to see her back in the starting line-up, though Whitfield is an electric option for the spot.
Gallagher, meanwhile, was a Dally M Winger of the Year winger but overlooked for the Pacific Championships. She’s moving from Newcastle to Canberra next NRLW season and will aim to impress with the fresh start. Jaime Chapman has runs on the board for NSW and Australia, as another more proven option.
Early verdict: Julia Robinson and Jess Sergis
CENTRE
Incumbent: Isabelle Kelly and Tiana Penitani Gray
Contenders: Jess Sergis, Julia Robinson
Analysis: Both Isabelle Kelly and Tiana Penitani Gray put up incredible performances during both the Pacific Championship and their respective 2025 NRLW seasons, with the former named in the Dally M Team of the Year.
Both appear to be locks, unless Skinner eventually decides that Robinson’s form means she simply must move in from the wing.
Early verdict: Isabelle Kelly and Tiana Penitani Gray
FIVE-EIGHTH
Incumbent: Ali Brigginshaw
Contenders: Tarryn Aiken, Emma Verran, Jocelyn Kelleher, Tiana Penitani Gray
Analysis: At 35 and with young halves rising, co-captain Ali Brigginshaw is being pragmatic about her Jillaroos position. It’s worth relaying what she told us prior to the Pac Champs.
“This may be my last campaign for the Jillaroos, which I’m OK with. But I’ve always said this, if someone needs me in their team, whether that’s Queensland or Australia, I will never let a team down,” Brigginshaw told foxsports.com.au.
“So if Jess (Skinner) calls me next year and says, ‘Hey, I think we need you, there’s been a couple of injuries’, and I’m in the right headspace to play, I’ll play.
“But I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way, you know. Tarryn (Aiken) and Jesse (Southwell) are the future of the halves pairing here.
“They deserve that, they work extremely hard and they’re great athletes, great players. It’s time to let them run the show and I’ll do my part in any team.”
A World Cup performance from Brigginshaw could make history – she would potentially become the equal most-capped Jillaroo of all time, alongside Tahnee Norris.
With the Jillaroos co-captain announcing earlier in the year that 2026 would be her final NRLW season, a World Cup would be the perfect way to cap off her incredible career.
But if Aiken, Southwell and Verran are all fully fit, and Jocelyn Kelleher keeps rising … a tough decision looms. The fact that Brigginshaw and Southwell will now partner up for the NRLW season at Brisbane prove be a factor, as will the legend’s vast experience.
Early verdict: Ali Brigginshaw
HALFBACK
Incumbent: Jesse Southwell
Contenders: Tarryn Aiken, Jocelyn Kelleher
Analysis: Despite only making her Jillaroos debut this year, Jesse Southwell has proven herself as an international force and the top contender for the No.7 jersey moving forward.
At just 20-years-old, Southwell guided NSW to an Origin win as well as taking the Knights to the finals in 2025.
After being named Dally M Halfback of the Year, Southwell was a clear choice for a Test call-up, following an ACL injury to Tarryn Aiken.
After a dominant performance from Southwell during the Pacific Championships, Skinner will be in for a difficult choice when it comes to choosing a starting halfback and the timeline of Aiken’s return is a huge factor.
After suffering her injury in Round 11 this year, Aiken could be out for up to 12 months, putting a Test call-up in some doubt. If she can make a fast recovery, the selection battle is on – though both likely make the squad at any rate.
Early verdict: Jesse Southwell
HOOKER
Incumbent: Olivia Higgins
Contenders: Keeley Davis, Quincy Dodd, Emma Manzelmann
Analysis: Coming in as a squad replacement for injured rookie Makenzie Weale, Knights hooker Olivia Higgins made a surprising bolt from nowhere to the starting No.9 jersey for the final after starting hooker Keeley Davis also went down.
Despite her impressive 2024 Jillaroos debut, a Las Vegas appearance and two years of Origin experience, selection had initially eluded the 33-year-old Higgins. But she showed again in the final that she’s elite material and is now right back in contention for the World Cup.
Quincy Dodd played as the second hooker for the entire series after an injury-hit NRL season and impressed, though being overlooked as the starter for the final was an interesting call on her from Skinner.
Another top contender is Emma Manzelmann who missed out on a Pacific Championships nod despite being named Dally M Hooker of the Year. The Cowboys star made a 2023 Jillaroos debut and averaged 30 tackles and 52 running metres per game this season, but apparently trails David, Dodd and Higgins in the Test pecking order.
Davis did nothing wrong before copping an elbow injury and seems the leading pick – but this is a another hotly-contested spot.
Early verdict: Keeley Davis
PROP
Incumbent: Jessika Elliston and Ellie Johnston
Contenders: Millie Elliott, Shannon Mato, Rima Butler, Sarah Togatuki, Makenzie Weale, Sophie Holyman
Analysis: A couple of massive potential comebacks here in the form of Millie Elliott and Shannon Mato, who were the starting props for Australia’s 2024 Pacific Championships final. Both are new mums, with Elliott set to return with the Roosters and Mato tipped to join Brisbane after a release from the Titans, if she plays at all next season.
Jessika Elliston took huge strides this season, winning a Dally M Prop of the Year nod and starting every game in the Pac Champs. At 28, she’s hitting her prime with full force.
Although first named on the interchange, Ellie Johnston starred for the side when starting both games against New Zealand. She had a big NRLW season and is well and truly in the World Cup mix, as is Roosters powerhouse Rima Butler.
The potential returns will play a big part here, and Elliott seems a good bet to resume her mantle as a star of the game, but Elliston also looks to have found a new level in her career.
Early verdict: Millie Elliott and Jessika Elliston
SECOND-ROW
Incumbent: Kezie Apps and Yasmin Clydsdale
Contenders: Romy Teitzel, Jasmin Strange, Lauren Dam
Analysis: Broncos premiership hero Romy Teitzel was a controversial omission from the Pacific Championships squad after a terrific NRLW campaign in which she was also the competition’s leading pointscorer. If her form holds next season, she has to be a strong chance to at least make the squad.
Kezie Apps remains co-captain and her form is holding strong despite a tough couple of seasons at Wests Tigers, and at 34 years old. Provided she’s fit and firing, her toughness and experience will be invaluable at the World Cup.
Yasmin Clysdale is a class act and was dominant throughout the Pac Champs. The Knights captain is surely locked in.
Edge backrow is not quite as flush with options as some other spots, evidenced by Jess Sergis pinch-hitting there in the Pac Champs final. Sergis’ Roosters teammate Jasmin Strange could be a smokey after successfully converting from the outside backs, though she’s also yet to debut in Origin. Ditto for Brisbane’s Lauren Dam, an underrated player.
Early verdict: Kezie Apps and Yasmin Clydsdale
LOCK
Incumbent: Olivia Kernick
Contenders: Keilee Joseph, Makenzie Weale, Kennedy Cherrington, Simaima Taufa
Analysis: Again named Dally M Lock of the Year, Olivia Kernick is a standout at No.13 despite Australia boasting some real class in the position. She looks virtually immovable, to the same degree as Tamika Upton at No.1.
Keilee Joseph is a quality player and may get more of a chance to stand out at NRLW next season after moving from the Broncos to Parramatta. Meanwhile, Makenzie Weale was initially one the big winners of Jillaroos selection after earning a belated squad call-up that proved her star is rising.
Early verdict: Olivia Kernick
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