Jillaroos name team for opening day of women’s Rugby League World Cup
AUSTRALIA may be short-priced favourites for the women’s Rugby League World Cup but co-captain Renae Kunst is quick to remind people of New Zealand’s dominance.
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AUSTRALIA may be short-priced favourites for the women’s Rugby League World Cup but co-captain Renae Kunst is quick to remind people of New Zealand’s dominance at the tournament.
Australia won the Cup for the first time in 2013 and broke the Kiwi Ferns’ unbeaten run of four straight world titles since it began in the women’s game in 2000.
The Jillaroos — who are $1.45 to win with TAB ahead of New Zealand at $2.60 — defeated their trans-Tasman rivals in Nines and Anzac Test this year, but Kunst knows they can’t take false confidence from that.
“New Zealand women’s has always been the pinnacle of women’s rugby league,” Kunst told Swoop at the launch of the women’s World Cup on Tuesday.
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“In 2013, that was the only time we had beaten them. While we’re fortunate enough to call ourselves World Champions, we’re under no illusions that they are a strong force to be reckoned with and it’s going to go down to the wire with regards to who takes this out.
“The fairytale finish is the double header at Suncorp Stadium but we have a hell of a lot of work before we get to that.
“That’s what we plan on doing and that’s where our focus needs to stay.”
Australia open their campaign against Cook Islands on Thursday and have to play England and Canada before semi-finals on Sunday, November 26.
It’s a mixed bag of pool matches for the Jillaroos. Cook Islands is a bit of an unknown, while Canada — a side formed primarily from the country’s successful rugby union team — may provide tougher opposition than expected.
Rugby league experience is likely to be their undoing as the side has only been together for around three months, meaning the Ravens may end up exposed by more traditional rugby league nations.
England, who Australia face on Sunday, Kunst marks as a danger game and is one she knows the players will be feeling once it’s done.
“The physicality of our game continues to go from strength to strength and that’s something the women’s game has never lacked, is the physicality,” the forward said.
“I have no doubt that will certainly be there along with a really good skill level.
“For me personally at my third World Cup and England has always been the toughest Test match I’ve ever played. I have no doubt it will be the same this time.”