NRLW 2024: Mahalia Murphy opens up on Jillaroos return, Millie Boyle’s fears over stolen premiership ring
Code-hopping NRLW star Mahalia Murphy was a regular for the Wallaroos and Australia in Rugby 7s, but the Eels skipper admits playing for the Jillaroos is still her proudest career achievement.
Mahalia Murphy donned the green and gold during her time in rugby union but the Parramatta skipper has revealed her Jillaroos debut is the greatest highlight of her sporting career.
Murphy made an emphatic debut for Australia at Suncorp Stadium back in 2015, scoring a hat-trick playing at centre against the Kiwi Ferns.
But with limited opportunities in the women’s game at the time, Murphy defected to rugby, where she was a regular in the Wallaroos and Sevens sides during her time in the 15-a-side game.
Despite Murphy’s achievement in the rival code, her Test debut for Australia remains her proudest achievement.
“Oh man, that’s still the highlight of my whole career and it always be my biggest highlight ever,” Murphy said.
“To be able to debut nines years ago, get a hat trick, be player of the match, defeat New Zealand, have my family there watch me player for Australia and on home soil, I don’t think you could have asked for a better debut than that.
“When I look back at it, it’s crazy. It still give me chills thinking about it.”
The 30-year returned to the NRLW last year to join the Parramatta Eels but after eight years away from rugby league Murphy feared the chance to wear the Jillaroos jumper would not come again.
But in a sliding door moment, Murphy is now back in Jillaroos camp at the same hotel, preparing to play at the same ground that she made her debut nine years ago.
“It’s funny to reflect back on it because we are actually at the same hotel and we are playing on the same field but I’m nine years older, it’s almost been a decade,” Murphy said.
“The game has just evolved since then, so I’m excited just to be here and in the position to play again.
“It was also a hope, to put my best foot forward and get the call up. But there have been a lot of girls who have been great over the last couple of years.
“I always had hope but to actually get the call-up, I was absolutely stoked.”
The Papua New Guinea Orchids will field at least 13 players on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium from the Prime Minster’s XIII side that was heavily beaten 50-nil by Australia last weekend.
Queensland prop Shannon Mato said the Jillaroos won’t be taking the Orchids lightly and are expecting PNG skipper Elsie Albert to deliver an inspired performance for her country.
“There is never any complacency. We prepare the same for all teams whether its PNG or New Zealand. Every game we take seriously and we take pride in the jersey we wear.
“We know Elsie will be ready to go out an lead her country in a big way. It’s always special when you are leading your country out. She’s one of the main ones we’ll target.
“She’s a really strong forward, she’ll be key for them, give confidence. She’s one to keep an eye out for.
Mato is also weary of the Orchids’ star-studded coaching box, led by her Maroons mentor Tahnee Norris and experienced campaigner Meg Ward, who won three NRLW premierships with the Brisbane Broncos.
“To be able to have Tahnee, who is obviously the State of Origin coach for Queensland and Meg Ward is on that coaching staff and has plenty of playing experience as well for the Broncos, there in PNG camp is huge,” Mato said.
“It’s great to see that’s where the game is now and they can take the knowledge, experiences and resources to those girls. They will be better for it.”
SILVER LINING FOR JILLAROOS STAR AFTER OFF-SEASON JEWEL HEIST
It’s the silver lining in an off-season jewel heist.
Affinity Diamonds, the jeweller which makes the NRL and NRLW premiership rings, have reached out to Sydney Roosters star Millie Elliott after her ring was stolen during a home invasion last week.
The founder of Affinity Diamonds Sam Rahme has offered to help replace the stolen ring as NSW Police continue to hunt down the thief.
A devastated Elliott told this masthead she fears the ring, with her playing number, eight, engraved into it, will never be recovered.
“I haven’t heard from the NRL, but Affinity Diamonds who make the rings, they have reached out to see if they can help with what I have lost,” Elliott said.
“But of course, it’s not on them to replace the ring. It’s just an unfortunate situation.
“Though Sam and his family have been very supportive, I actually got my engagement ring from Affinity Diamonds.
“They (NSW Police) haven't found the ring yet, it’s devastating. I don’t think I’ll ever get it back. There are some leads, but there is nothing solid just yet.”
The rings are worth around $10,000 and encrusted with two carat diamonds. But Elliott doesn’t believe the ring was the target of the burglary.
The thieves also stole bags, laptops and cash from the Newcastle home she shares with husband and Knights forward Adam Elliott.
The Jillaroos prop was woken from her sleep during the burglary, and scared one of the thieves away, but not before the ring was swiped.
“I was in the house at the time,” Elliott said.
“We think someone had been in the house earlier and then I was woken by the noise I got up to find there was also someone else in the living room and I had scared that person away.
“But we didn’t realise someone else had already been inside the house as well.
To Elliott, the rings hold a sentimental value that is priceless.
After her grand final win for the Roosters, Elliott became just the second NRL or NRLW player after front-row great Glenn Lazarus, to win three titles with three different clubs, having already won premierships with Newcastle and Brisbane.
“The cost of it doesn’t really matter, it’s more the sentimental value and what having that specific ring means and what it represents,” Elliott said.
It’s not the only distraction the Jillaroos star has had to deal with ahead of Friday night’s clash with the PNG Orchids at Suncorp Stadium.
Roosters teammate and Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick dominated the headlines last week after she was snubbed for Jillaroos selection.
It led to the ARLC launching an investigation into the axing of Kernick, who scored two tries in the Roosters grand final win over the Sharks.
“I don’t think it has been a distraction in camp but obviously I’m disappointed for Live, she’s one of my really good friends,” Elliott said.
“Someone will always miss out, and she’s an incredible player and only 23. I have no doubt she’ll get back into this jersey.
“To see everyone talking about it, it was incredible to see so many people paying attention, knowing who she was and recognising the season that she’s had.
“It’s a credit to her footy and how far the game’s come.”
HOW PENRITH PREMIERSHIP DUO HELPED CREATE A JILLAROOS STAR
They’re the free footy clinics in Sydney’s west, run by NRL premiership winners Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o, that helped create a Jillaroos star.
Wests Tigers prop Sarah Togatuki has revealed how Crichton and To’o have played a crucial role in her earning an Australian Test debut this Friday night at Suncorp Stadium against the PNG Orchids.
Togatuki attended many of the free training sessions in Mt Druitt in 2018, ahead of her first ever NRLW season with the Sydney Roosters.
The 27-year-old said summer clinics helped springboard her own career in the women’s game.
“I give credit to Critta (Crichton) and Bizza (To’o),” Togatuki said.
“Before NRLW came out those boys were holding a couple of free sessions. That was just back when they were just rookies (themselves) at Penrith.
“They were holding clinics, pre-season sessions and I had happened to go to some of them.
“Man, that was an eye opening experience for me and that’s what really helped me excel in coming into the NRLW.
“I owe those boys a lot.
“We’ve always crossed paths, it wasn’t just rugby league, it was also just living in the same area in Mt Druitt. We are a very close, tight knit community out there and we tend to lean on one another.”
But that was only be the beginning of Togatuki’s connection to Crichton.
This year, Togatuki played alongside the Canterbury skipper’s younger sister Harmony for the Tigers in the NRLW.
Harmony, like older brother Stephen, is an outside back boasting plenty of potential.
“Critta’s sister Harmony has just had an ACL reconstruction but she is another talent, she is so similar to Stephen and how she prepares for a game and plays,” Togatuki said.
“I just know when she comes back she is going to do some much for herself.”
The family connection doesn’t end there. Togatuki also featured in an exhibition rugby league nines match for Samoa alongside To’o wife Moesha back in 2016.
“She’s actually a gun. I know she has a baby now but from my memory, she had just come over from New Zealand and we played our first game for Samoa,” Togatuki said.
“She was just a weapon.
“She could probably put the boots back on. If Bizza put some (training) session on for her, I have no doubt she’d kill it.”
In other NRLW club news, the Gold Coast Titans have locked in star fullback Evania Pelite on a long-term extension.
The Queensland Maroons centre was unsigned beyond 2024 but after contract talks with coach Karyn Murphy the 29-year-old has agreed to stay on at the Titans for the next three seasons until the end of 2027.
The Titans were runners up in last year’s grand final before missing out on the finals series this year.
Pelite, a Rugby 7s Olympic gold medallist, is committed to helping the Titans win an inguinal NRLW title.
“It means a lot to me to extend my time here. I love this club and I’ve had a lot of conversations with Murph about wanting to stay at the club long-term, so I’m really happy to signed until the end of 2027,” Pelite said.
“I now really want to create history and be the first premiership-winning team on the Gold Coast. We came so close as grand finalists last year so it’s extremely motivating to know we have the potential to go one better.
“I also want to remain injury free which I did this past season. I feel that contributed to my performance and I really want to build on that in 2025 and reach my full potential as a fullback.”
Originally published as NRLW 2024: Mahalia Murphy opens up on Jillaroos return, Millie Boyle’s fears over stolen premiership ring
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