Jillaroos in focus: Props lining up for World Cup spots
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They bring the size and strength to lay a platform and in the Australian Jillaroos' case there are plenty of players putting their hands up to be part of the forward pack at the World Cup.
The Jillaroos' engine room will look significantly different compared to the last campaign five years ago with several retirements and fresh players emerging in a changing of the guard period for the squad.
In a 10-week editorial series, NRL.com takes a look at who is in contention for a World Cup spot in the Harvey Norman Australian Jillaroos by position, thanks to leading partners Harvey Norman.
- Position: Prop
- World Cup spots available: 5-6
Traditionally a breakdown of squads will see around eight middle forwards which includes at least two who are capable of playing a similar or ball-playing role at lock.
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald used six specialist props throughout the 2017 World Cup which included retired forwards Heather Ballinger, Rebecca Young and Ruan Sims.
The Incumbents
Simaima Taufa (Eels), Millie Boyle (Knights), Chelsea Lenarduzzi (Broncos), Holli Wheeler (Dragons).
An intimidating quartet of forwards last represented the Jillaroos in 2019 with Simaima Taufa and Millie Boyle starting up front before Chelsea Lenarduzzi and Holli Wheeler came off the bench in middle roles.
Taufa, a nine-Test veteran for the Jillaroos, ran for 115 metres against the Kiwi Ferns in the last international match and had a dominant personal season in the NRLW for the Eels earlier this year.
Along with Boyle (161 metres), the pair combined with 59 tackles between them in the win.
Boyle and Lenarduzzi were on national debut and have since become two of the premier forwards in the game.
Taufa and Wheeler have been playing at lock for their NRLW clubs this season but are equally as effective at prop if required.
With another strong season in the NRLW each, all four players should remain in contention for selection.
The Contenders
There are a plethora of middle forwards putting their hand up and placing pressure on the incumbents, who are all in contention, ahead of World Cup selection.
The performance of Caitlan Johnston in Ampol Women’s State of Origin has put her back in the frame after an elbow injury ruled her out for most of the NRLW season.
Johnston had a small taste of the Jillaroos in 2019 when she was 18th player against the Kiwi Ferns. The Indigenous All Stars co-captain can provide a side with impact and fierceness if she were to be selected.
On the Maroons side of the scale, Titans prop Shannon Mato also brings a side of aggression that will be required for the World Cup.
Like Johnston, Mato suffered a knee injury during the NRLW season earlier this year and was ruled out for most of the campaign.
Fellow Origin forwards Sarah Togatuki and Jessika Elliston are also Jillaroos hopefuls with the pair shining bright for their NRLW clubs earlier this year.
Togatuki escaped a grand final ban by finishing best on ground to take home the Karyn Murphy medal in April.
She's previously played on the edge of the field but in the past 12 months has shifted to the middle at either prop or lock and is your traditional impact forward.
Elliston has undergone a similiar transition at the Titans, moving into the middle recently. She got back into the Maroons side in June after taking out the Titans' player of the year honours for the 2021 season.
Parramatta forward Filomina Hanisi had a quiet NRLW season by her standards for the Eels but will return to the club for their second campaign.
Hanisi is a promising prop coming through the NSW system and was included in the Blues' extended squad in June after making her Origin debut in 2020.
Emerging Roosters prop Keilee Joseph has also impressed since graduating from the under 19s programs to the senior level.
Joseph can play in the middle or on an edge and would be suited to the 80-minute internationals for the Jillaroos.
Other players worthy of a mention but would be considered outsiders at this stage are Tayla Predebon, Brianna Clark and 20-Test Jillaroos legend Steph Hancock.
It may seem harsh on Hancock given her tremendous return to the rugby league arena this year which included four tries in six games for the Titans, however given the influx of players competing for spots, it’s likely the Jillaroos will turn to youth for the upcoming tournament.
The Bolter
You’d be a brave person to write off Kennedy Cherrington from pulling on the green and gold at the end of the year despite the Eels forward being surprisingly overlooked for the Origin clash in June.
While NSW will stick by their decision given they took out the title in Canberra, a big upcoming NRLW season from Cherrington will see her well and truly in the mix for a national debut.
Cherrington had a solid season for the Eels earlier this year, averaging 105 metres per game in the middle, while defensively she also improved from her maiden campaign at the Roosters in 2020.
She took her omission from the Origin side on the chin and decided to undergo knee surgery during the break to ensure she was in top shape for the second half of the year.
The Final Word
"We have a lot of great middles coming through and I've been really impressed by some of the young players. It's a pretty brutal schedule in terms of four-day turnarounds so we might take a couple more in the squad than previously. If you can play front row, lock and even back-row it's going to be quite advantageous for a candidate because of that. The girls that play big minutes we've got to be really careful of. A back-rower or lock who can move to other spots are the types of switches we'll be looking for in this tournament." - Jillaroos coach Brad Donald.
