The Jillaroos have opened their Women’s Rugby League World Cup defence with a 40-0 win over Fetu Samoa at CommBank Stadium, with Jocelyn Kelleher named player of the match on her Test debut. Australia scored seven tries to none, with five of them coming in the first half.
Kelleher, the 26-year-old Roosters five-eighth who got the nod ahead of Jesse Southwell in a new-look halves pairing with Tarryn Aiken, had two try assists and kicked six goals for 12 points on Friday night, AAP reported.
“(Jocelyn’s) kicking game was amazing, she took her opportunities and we couldn’t have asked for more on debut for the Jillaroos in a World Cup,” Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner said, according to AAP.
“We’re all super proud of her, and we’re looking forward to celebrating her over the coming days.”
Five first-half tries
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Samoa had the better of the opening 10 minutes, but Australia struck in the 11th minute when Gold Coast Titans winger Jaime Chapman finished out wide, NRL.com reported. Julia Robinson, Australia’s greatest ever try scorer, followed seven minutes later for her 23rd Jillaroos try in 14 appearances, according to AAP.
Shaylee Bent and Keeley Nizza, who ran 30 metres from dummy half, scored in quick succession before lock Olivia Kernick crossed just before the break to give the Jillaroos a 28-0 lead at half-time, BBC Sport’s match summary shows.
Samoa dig in after the break
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Kernick turned provider early in the second half, finding replacement Keilee Joseph in support for Australia’s sixth try in the 45th minute. Samoa then held out for long periods, with 18-year-old debutant Freedom Crichton Ropati making a series of big defensive hits, before centre Jessica Sergis crossed late in the 70-minute match.
Samoa prop Laikha Clarke came closest to scoring for the visitors, but was ruled to have dropped the ball over the line, AAP reported.
Fullback Tamika Upton had three try assists and four line-break assists and captain Isabelle Kelly ran for 198 metres, according to NRL.com. Samoa finished with 40 per cent of possession and 627 fewer run metres.
“We weren’t at our best but it’s only the first game together,” Kelly said. “These learning curves are going to be crucial as we progress through the tournament.”
What’s next
Frank Pritchard’s Fetu Samoa, playing at their first Women’s World Cup since 2008, will stay in Sydney to face Wales. They will be sweating on centre Sarina Masaga, who came off late with a suspected knee injury, according to AAP.
The Jillaroos, chasing a fourth straight Women’s World Cup title and extending an unbeaten run of almost three years, head to Perth to play England at HBF Park on Saturday 24 October, kicking off at 8.05pm AEDT.
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