The Jillaroos are yet to concede a point at this year’s Rugby League World Cup and could crack 100 against Wales this weekend as they eye off another title.
But the form of one of Australia’s most dominant teams has been overshadowed by criticism over a few players not singing the national anthem, while those same people have condemned them for proudly draping the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags before games.
Corban Baxter won a World Cup with the Jillaroos in 2017 and said being proud of your background is something that should be celebrated.
“I think it’s really important for the players to be able to represent their culture,” she told the NewsWire in Sydney where she and Daly Cherry-Evans helped promote VB’s release of 6000 special cases to celebrate the Roosters winning the NRL and NRLW titles.
“Those girls are obviously very proud about where they come from, and being able to walk out and wear that flag around them obviously means a lot to them.
“I am a proud Māori woman, and when I am in those environments, any opportunity I get I love to have my flag and take those moments when I’m in the All Stars camp.
“I think it’s the same sort of thing. It’s just pride in where you come from, in your culture, your heritage and your ancestors, and that’s what they’re representing.”
The Jillaroos have scored 118 points and are yet to have their line breached, yet the dominant story this week has been the flag issue which has been painted as a political protest.
“Yeah it is (sad) because there’s so much good stuff coming out from the World Cup,” Baxter said.
“I’m biased to the Jillaroos and they’re doing amazingly, but just seeing women’s sport put on the map internationally and seeing Fiji and Wales and England has also been cool.
“I know there have been a few blowouts in the scorelines, but I know how much it means to them to be able to pull on that jersey and represent, and that’s what it’s about. I love watching it as a fan.”
Australia is fresh off a 78-0 win over England and are expected to do even more damage against the Welsh who have been totally outclassed in their two games.
This will be the biggest mismatch of the World Cup, with the Jillaroos a chance of scoring 100 in Sydney on Sunday.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past them,” Baxter said.
“They have so much strike across the field. Wales will be better for the experience over the last two games, and I’m sure they’re obviously going to come and do all they can.
“They’ve done a lot of work on the Jillaroos and their threats, but they’re a very hard side to keep away from the try line.”
Originally published as Former World Cup winner Corban Baxter backs Jillaroos over flag backlash