As the Jillaroos prepare to celebrate 30 years since their first Test, NRL.com is shining the spotlight on some of the unheralded players who played a key role in the rise of women’s rugby league. First up in our Jillaroos Journey series is Jillaroo No.12 Robyn Miller.

Robyn Miller has spent her life blazing the trail for generations of emerging women. 

Whether it be on the rugby league field or the board rooms of the country’s biggest public institutions, the former Jillaroo has never been afraid to take a backwards step in traditionally masculine environments. 

Miller was the vice-captain in Australia’s inaugural Test against New Zealand in 1995 and went on to have a decorated career in the Australian Public Service.

While the settings are vastly different, Miller always maintained a desire to pave the way for the next generation of women.




The inaugural Jillaroos team played two Tests against New Zealand in Sydney and Canberra.


The inaugural Jillaroos team played two Tests against New Zealand in Sydney and Canberra.
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“It wasn’t easy and you had to swim against the tide,” Miller told NRL.com. “You had to be willing to stand up for yourself and it wasn’t a simple process to get the opportunity to play for Australia. 

“It’s been fantastic to see the original team recognised and to see the teams that followed also get the recognition. 

“There aren’t too many women in the senior leadership areas in the public service and the ones that were there are amazing people. I had the opportunity to work with a number of people who had a similar story in sport.

“Rugby league gave me that grounding and ability to work through adversity. That grounding in forging ahead regardless of what people think certainly helped in my career.”

Miller’s rugby league career started with the Woden Valley Rams in 1993, where she quickly emerged as a player to watch in the local Canberra competition. 

The second-rower travelled to Fiji with the Rams alongside Sydney’s Waverton Eagles for an end-of-season tour. While there, a combined team was selected to play against the Fijian national side, with the Australians winning 16-4. 

The side later became known as the Foundation Team and is now viewed as the precursor to the initial 1995 Test squad. 

‘It was an amazing experience,” Miller said. “It was the first real experience of having media interested in the games.

“It was a big event over there and some of the players were pretty colourful. They got write ups in the local paper, which was good to see.”

The two years between the Fiji tour and the inaugural Test saw the Australian Women’s Rugby League, the governing body at the time, move to formalise a selection process for international matches.




Renee Goninan (nee McMahon) with her Jillaroos jersey before the inaugural Test against New Zealand.


Renee Goninan (nee McMahon) with her Jillaroos jersey before the inaugural Test against New Zealand.
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A tournament was held at Redfern Oval in the 1995 June long weekend featuring teams from the Illawarra, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane.

Miller was the only person to feature in both the 1993 Foundation Team and the inaugural Test side, while Fiona Huntington and Allison Smith would go on to represent Australia in later years. Jeanette Luker also remained heavily involved with the team and was manager for a number of years. 

Once a squad was selected, Australia played two games against New Zealand on July 1 and July 8 1995. The Kiwi Ferns prevailed 18-14 in Sydney before claiming a 14-6 win in the second Test in Canberra.

Late coach Graham Willard made sure the women were aware of the magnitude of the occasion and legendary ex-player and then Magpies coach Tommy Raudonikis addressed the team, while former Kangaroos halfback Keith Holman presented the jerseys.

“Having Tommy come in was a great experience,” inaugural captain Nat Dwyer said. “Tommy was a larrikin. He said ‘the first scrum you go into, make sure you kick their shins’.

“We all knew what he was like as a player and the character he was so having Tommy talk to us was pretty inspiring.

“We knew at the time we were creating history. I had represented Australia in cricket and knew we needed to succeed to get the financial backing we needed. We didn’t know how long it was going to take until we did succeed and I had no idea it would grow to where it is now.”




The inaugural Jillaroos Test matches received some publicity in local newspapers leading into the games.


The inaugural Jillaroos Test matches received some publicity in local newspapers leading into the games.
©Supplied

Like many players from those early years, Miller was forced to choose between rugby league and her professional career.

After much debate, she eventually prioritised her work in the public service and her time in the Jillaroos jersey was limited to just two matches in 1995. 

That, however, did not stop Miller from continuing to advocate for women as she rose up the ranks of some of the government’s biggest agencies. 

The former footballer held senior positions at Customs, Border Force and Immigration before retiring earlier this year.

Miller could never have predicted how far women’s rugby league would come in the past 30 years but is proud to have played a role in laying the foundation for future generations.

“I was in my mid-20s at that stage and because it was all self-funded I needed to make some decisions about my future career,” Miller said. “Unfortunately it was all a bit late for me and I didn’t get to play for a long period but the experience was amazing. 

“When we were playing it was an amateur sport, the competitions were organised by players and volunteers. We had to put up with a lot of ridicule and there wasn’t that support network. Women weren’t welcome in a number of areas, there were no junior pathways and everything was self-funded, right down to your socks. 

“It wasn’t easy, you had to play against the tide. You had to be willing to stand up for yourself just to get the opportunity to play. It wasn’t simple at all so it’s been fantastic to see the original team recognised and to see the teams that followed also get the recognition.”