Bright lights and breaking barriers: Jillaroos ready to roll in Vegas

“Never ever (did I think I would play a Test match in America); I think that's what's so exciting about the women's game is we're continuously taking it to the other side of the world or we're playing on bigger stages,” Brigginshaw said.

“It's just so exciting for us as a team and as the game that we're forever just breaking barriers and making new accomplishments as a group.

“I'm just happy to go over there and see what they've got, a girl from Ipswich has never been to Vegas, so I'm excited to see what it's like.

"I know I missed out on a lot when I was younger, so probably why I haven't hung up the boots yet, I feel like this is just an exciting time and I'm glad to be a part of it.

“I get so excited to just pull on this jersey."

Winger Julia Robinson – who has become a star of the game having made the move from netball and was signed to the Broncos after being scouted at the Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships playing for the ADF – said the Test match, the Nines tournament and in particular, the NRL Combine would expose new audiences to the game.

“I think seeing all different kind of athletes to give rugby league a go is going to be incredible,” Robinson said.

“We see so many different kind of athletes come over to rugby league and they just kill it ; we've got the Sevens girls (already) and obviously America's huge in their sports.”

On the football side, the team were looking forward to playing against England, an opponent they had not faced since 2017, some years before a number of current stars including Tamika Upton and Tarryn Aiken had made their international debuts.

Fresh off the back of claiming last year's Pacific Championships trophy - a tournament where they only conceded one try throughout their campaign – coach Jess Skinner has a settled line-up in her charge, with experienced centre Isabelle Kelly saying the players were well prepared for the upcoming encounter.

“I think coming off the back of Pac Champs last year we did really well and clicked really well as a team, so we're excited; we're excited to be playing  the English girls,” Kelly said.

“It's been a while since we've versed them, a few years, but I think that's probably our biggest focus is to make sure that we go over there and put on the best performance that we can.

“We obviously want to do the Jillaroos jersey really proud and we want to make a statement and that's what we're all about is making sure that we put this jersey in a better place.

“I think every time we put it on, we're doing that, so we're confident, but we also know there's a lot of work to do to make sure that we put our best performance out there."

Brigginshaw agreed that while the squad would take the time to soak in the surrounds, they would not take their focus from the game.

“We're going over there to do a job, and there's nothing about this group that ever thinks about anything but doing their job,” Brigginshaw said.

“So, all the bright lights ..., (but) for us it's footy and we're going to have some fun as a group, we know how to do that, but we also know how to win footy games.”