Pacific Championships final: Star Jillaroos trio battling injury and illness ahead of Kiwi Ferns clash

The Jillaroos are sweating on the availability of three of their most important players ahead of the Pacific Championships final against New Zealand. See the latest team news.

The Jillaroos are sweating on the health of three superstars ahead of Sunday’s Pacific Championships final after Tiana Penitani sat out the biggest session of the week due to illness.

The Dally M captain and centre of the year winner was reduced to minimal duties on Wednesday, stretching a hip and groin issue while grounded with illness.

It could open the door for Jess Sergis, who has again been named on the extended bench, to come into the team on Sunday.

The premiership winner trained in the centres during the session at Blue Mountains Grammar School in Penitani’s absence.

Sergis expected to come into the final 17 by the end of the week but coach Brad Donald is still finalising positions with doubt still over Millie Elliott and Tamika Upton.

Cronulla star Penitani is now the third player the Jillaroos are concerned about heading into the clash with the Kiwi Ferns, with Millie Elliott and Tamika Upton both battling the flu.

Tiana Penitani sat out training on Wednesday. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

Unlike Penitani, the pair trained on Wednesday after sitting out parts of camp earlier in the week in an encouraging sign they will be right to take the field.

Meanwhile, a shocked Jesse Southwell has spoken about receiving a surprise call from Donald while on a family trip in Thailand with her parents and older sister Hannah Southwell, a former Jillaroo.

The 19-year-old Knights halfback joined camp this week as a replacement for Lauren Brown after a star showing for the Australian Prime Ministers’ XIII.

Jessica Sergis could come into the starting side. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

“I was pretty shocked at first when he told me, so I didn’t know what to say, so I was like oh, I'll just talk to my parents and see what they say,” she said on Wednesday.

“Obviously they were stoked, and they were like ‘yeah sure, go’.”

Although she’s not expected to play on Sunday, Southwell’s inclusion comes as a nod to her representative future.

“I think Hannah was the first person I told actually. She was so excited and really happy for me,” she added.

KNIGHT SALUTES FOR KNIGHT

It really was a Knights choice.

Newcastle duo Jesse Southwell and Olivia Higgins both bagged a winner in the Melbourne Cup while in camp with the Jillaroos in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.

In a stroke of luck, two-time premiership-winning halfback Southwell drew Knights Choice in the Australian squad sweep, earning prize money and bragging rights, while No.9 Higgins put an each-way bet on the club’s namesake to win almost $2,000 on the race.

The group gathered on their day off to watch the race that stops a nation in the theatre room at Fairmont Resort on Tuesday afternoon.

Only Knights fullback Tamika Upton and Roosters prop Millie Elliott were absent, both fighting colds ahead of Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against Kiwi Ferns at CommBank Stadium.

The Jillaroos' Melbourne Cup sweep

Jesse Southwell was triumphant in the sweep.

Both are on light duties at training this week but are expected to be fit to face New Zealand.

It comes as coach Brad Donald named his team with Higgins named to start at No.9 after being cleared of a fractured wrist on Sunday.

Olivia Higgins has been cleared to play for the Jillaroos. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

Roosters star Keeley Davis has been named as 14th player on the bench as cover in the only change to the team that defeated the Kiwi Ferns a fortnight ago.

Jess Sergis has been named on the extended bench but could come into the final 17 in a last minute switch on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Cup win is a double victory for Southwell who was brought into Jillaroos camp on Sunday night.

Jesse Southwell has been brought into the Jillaroos squad. Picture: NRL Photos

The two-time premiership winner was dropped from the NSW Origin team earlier this year but has earned an international call up in a nod to her future in an Australian jersey.

The 19-year-old starred for Australia in the Prime Minister’s XIII clash with three try assists and four line break assists in a 50-0 win over Papua New Guinea last month.

Southwell was devastated to be left out of the Sky Blues team earlier this year but Donald wants to give her the opportunity to rebound after disappointment in camp this week.

“That’s what some of our players need to go through, it’s one thing to get to the top but it’s another thing to stay there,” he said on Monday.

“As the game evolves they’re getting fitter and faster, stranger and more skilful.

“She was great in the PMs with all the up and coming players, and everyone was raving about how good she was and how well she complimented what we’re trying to do.”

Originally published as Pacific Championships final: Star Jillaroos trio battling injury and illness ahead of Kiwi Ferns clash