Australian Jillaroos coach Brad Donald quits before historic Las Vegas Test match

The Jillaroos will head to Las Vegas for their historic Test match against England with a new coach, after a turbulent six months finally caught up with long-standing coach Brad Donald.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald has sensationally resigned just three weeks before an inaugural Test match against England in Las Vegas.

The head coach of the women’s national rugby league team since 2016, Donald’s long-standing tenure is over following a turbulent past six months, which concluded late on Thursday after an investigation was launched by the NRL into a disparaging comment allegedly made in front of players.

Highly-respected Jillaroos assistant coach Jessica Skinner has been promoted into the prestigious position and will take over the reigns of the Australian team ahead of their tour to tackle England in Las Vegas, where for the first time the women’s game has been added to the NRL’s glamourous season-opening event in the US.

The bombshell decision for Donald to depart has emerged in the wake of an investigation that he allegedly used an expletive to refer to a journalist in front of players in camp, while airing frustrations about coverage late last year.

At least one person who was at the camp shared details of the interaction more widely, before the NRL was made aware and started its own investigation.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald had been at the helm since 2016. Picture: NRL Imagery

The NRL’s investigation into the culture under Donald is the reason why a Jillaroos camp on the Gold Coast was suddenly cancelled last month.

The inquest followed the widely-publicised furore surrounding Donald and his decision last October to controversially overlook Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick from his Pacific Championships squad.

The omission of Kernick left fans and commentators stunned, so much so the ARLC Commission stepped in to make a formal inquiry into why the Roosters star was snubbed.

Coinciding with Donald’s departure, Kernick has been recalled to the Jillaroos travelling squad for their historic Las Vegas match.

Donald’s swift exit from the position will shock many throughout the game due to his role as one of the most influential leaders in women’s rugby league.

Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick has been recalled to the Jillaroos. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Amid year-on-year growth, Donald has been at the helm for Australia’s World Cup wins in 2017 and 2022, and at one stage took the Jillaroos on a seven-year, 15-match unbeaten run before his sole loss to New Zealand in 2023.

Long-viewed as the ultimate successor to Donald by many, Skinner will take charge with the readiness and leadership qualities to provide much-needed stability within the Jillaroos camp.

A former assistant coach at the Knights, Skinner made history last year as the first female head coach of the Indigenous Women’s All Stars team.

Deeply involved with the game with various coaching roles which include heading up the First Nations Gems and the NRL Indigenous Women’s Academy, Skinner also works with the game’s governing body as a pathways strategy manager.

Ironically, Donald couldn’t have spoken more highly of Skinner’s ability as an elite coach last year.

“There’s lots of elements of the coaching that she has got strengths in; technically and tactically savvy, her personal relationship with players is outstanding, her understanding of culture – team culture, First Nations culture of the players within our team, Pacific Nations culture; she’s one of those coaches that ticks all the boxes,” Donald told NRL.com.

“She’s just a really good people manager.’’

Jillaroos travelling squad

Tarryn Aitken

Kezie Apps (c)

Ali Brigginshaw (c)

Lauren Brown

Yasmin Clydsdale

Keeley Davis

Quincy Dodd

Jessika Elliston

Olivia Higgins

Keilee Joseph

Isabelle Kelly

Olivia Kernick

Shannon Mato

Mahalia Murphy

Tiana Penitani

Julia Robinson

Jessica Sergis

Simaima Taufa

Sarah Togatuki

Tamika Upton

Jakiya Whitfield

Originally published as Australian Jillaroos coach Brad Donald quits before historic Las Vegas Test match