Simaima Taufa on Jillaroos’ ‘five-year plan’, Olivia Higgins reveals emotional story behind achieving Jillaroos dream
It took just a single year for a five-year plan hatched by some Jillaroos stars back in 2017 to reap rewards. With the women’s game now booming, Simaima Taufa reflects on the plan that kickstarted it all.
Even the Jillaroos had a ‘five-year plan’.
But unlike Phil Gould’s so-called ‘five-year plan’ at Penrith, it took only a single year for the plan hatched by the likes of Ali Brigginshaw, Kezie Apps and Simaima Taufa during the 2017 Women’s World Cup to reap rewards.
Back then, the highest level of competition in the women’s games were state based league in New South Wales and Queensland.
Taufa knew the women’s game was on the rise but never expected an NRLW season, which launched in 2018, so soon.
“We spoke about it at the 2017 World Cup, what our five-year plan was. We’d hoped that in the next five years we’d get an NRLW competition for us girls and to see it come to fruition after was pretty surreal,” Taufa said.
The women’s game has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years. Female players struck a historic CBA agreement last year, which will see the minimum wage raised to $42,000 in 2025 and the NRLW competition expand to 12 teams. While the women’s Origin series featured three games, mirroring the men’s series, for first time in 2024.
Taufa believes the Jillaroos jumper, and the women who wore it before her like Ruan Sims and Heather Ballinger, helped blaze the trail to get the game to where it is today.
“The impact on the Jillaroos jersey has had on the game as a whole as been immense,” Taufa said.
“We are aware of the role we have in the jersey, to leave it in a better place than we found it and carrying on the history that entrenched in the fabric of the jersey for the next generation of players like Keilee Joseph, Quincy Dodd and Sarah Togatuki to carry it on long after we are gone.”
On Sunday, Taufa will put aside her Canberra Raiders allegiance in a bid to avenge the Jillaroos’ shock loss to New Zealand in Pacific Championship 12 months ago.
The Ferns will feature her club teammates Apii Nicholls, Ashleigh Quinlan and Mackenzie Wiki. But Taufa won’t be taking a backward step in Christchurch.
“It’s going to be a grind. It’ going to come down who wants it more,” Taufa said.
“We know at the end of the day we are mates after the game but when it comes down to it, we are representing our countries. May the best woman win.”
In club news, St George Illawarra have moved to replace former coach Jamie Soward, appointing Nathan Cross to take charge of the NRLW side next season.
Cross will also oversee the club’s coaching pathways for both the men’s and women’s programs in a dual role.
The Dragons opted not to extend Soward’s tenure at the club beyond 2024 after spending four seasons at the helm of the women’s side.
Dragons Female Football Manager Samantha Bremner said Cross’ wealth of coaching experience is crucial in the club’s quest for its first ever NRLW title.
“Nathan brings with him not only a wealth of rugby league knowledge but a great ability to tailor that to our female rugby league players,” Bremner said.
“His aspirations for the team and club align perfectly with what we are working towards for this club and his philosophies around women’s rugby league instils a lot of confidence that he will not only help the team perform at the highest level, both individually and as a team, but also give them a great experience at the club whilst doing so.”
Cross, who has over 17 years of experience under his belt, has spent the last two years as the Queensland women’s Origin assistant coach to Tahnee Norris and coached the Maroons under 19’s men side in 2023.
EMOTIONAL TEST CALL-UP FOR NRLW VETERAN
Olivia Higgins would be writing school reports this week had the Jillaroos hooker given up on the dream to play representative football 12 months ago.
Fresh from winning her third NRLW title, the Knights dummy half was weighing up retirement all together in 2023.
The 32-year old believed the chance to play for her state and country would never come.
But her form in 2024 not only earned Higgins selection for NSW Sky Blues but also that illusive Test debut.
On Tuesday, Higgins was named for a second Jillaroos cap in the side to take on the Kiwi Ferns in Christchurch after debuting in Australia’s 84-nil win over Papua New Guinea last weekend.
“When I got the phone call, I just started crying.” Higgins said.
“I was very overwhelmed, excited and shocked to be honest.
“I started rugby league late and I always played because I love it. But to be honest, I thought I missed out on representative honours the older I got. To be able to do this now, to be play for Australia was something I didn’t expect.
“I had been lucky to play in the NRLW for three years and had been fortunate enough to play in teams to win three premierships.
“I have experienced things not many get to do and I thought the ship had sailed for representative footy, so I was starting to focus on other things in life.
“I thought I’d have a big off-season, I had a bit of drive left in me and I’m glad I did.
“I think I have found my love for footy again.”
The first call Higgins made after finding out about her Jillaroos selection was to her father, the second was to the principal at Newcastle High School, where she is a full-time P.E. teacher.
Higgins was supposed to be prepared for the final term of the school year, not Jillaroos camp.
“I was supposed to start (the term) but I had a phone call with the principal and let her know, she had actually seen it on the news first before I told her but she was fine with that, she’s unreal,” Higgins said.
“The school is supportive but I do have school reports I need to write.”
Higgins has been named to start at hooker for the injured Quincy Dodd (quad), after coming off the bench in last week’s demolition job on The Orchids.
Skipper Ali Brigginshaw, who was rested against PNG, will start in the halves alongside Tarryn Aiken. Brigginshaw’s return will see Tiana Penitani shift back into the centre with Jess Sergis dropping to the reserves.
Kiwi coach Ricky Henry has named 13 players, including Mele Hufanga, Abigail Roache, Ashleigh Quinlan from the Ferns side that sunk the Jillaroos in Pacific Championship last November – ending a seven-year losing streak to Australia.
Roosters premiership winner Amber Hall has been named in the second row, with her club teammate Tiana Davidson coming off the bench.
While the Ferns boast plenty of experience, Henry has named two debutants for this year’s series in Brisbane five-eighth Gayle Broughton and St George Illawarra lock Alexis Tauaneai. Titans forward Georgia Hale will captain the Ferns.
Jillaroos centre Isabelle Kelly said the sting from Australia’s shock loss to the Ferns at AAMI Park in last year’s Pacific Championship still lingered 12 months on.
“We hadn’t lost to the Kiwis in a number of years so it really hurt to have that loss,” Kelly said.
“The motivation is really high whenever you put the Jillaroos jersey on. They are getting stronger every year so we have to be on our A-game.”
Originally published as Simaima Taufa on Jillaroos’ ‘five-year plan’, Olivia Higgins reveals emotional story behind achieving Jillaroos dream
‘A bit surreal’: Aussie gun shocked by award
She was the best player in the NRLW grand final and starred for her state and country, but Tarryn Aiken still couldn’t believe this honour.
Roosters star caps off dream season with ultimate honour
It’s just her year. Sydney Roosters star Tarryn Aiken could not have asked for anything more in 2024, after adding one of rugby league’s most prestigious trophies to her collection.
‘Right direction’: Women’s sports takes over
Women’s sports are now enjoying the recognition they’ve long deserved with AFLW player Éilish O’Dowd and WBBL cricketer Phoebe Litchfield among the athletes taking over the industry.