\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The jersey design represents the diverse backgrounds of past the present Jillaroos players, showcasing 13 different countries and heritages, incorporating their significant cultural symbols.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Some of these include the Niho Taniwha pattern from traditional M\u0101ori culture, symbolising strength, leadership, guardianship and the wisdom passes down through generations which has been placed at the base of the design to represent the strong foundations for the Jillaroos.<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Celtic knot pattern on the sleeves represents interconnectedness, while the inclusion of a woven mat design symbolises unity and strength, carrying deep cultural meaning across all Pacific Island nations.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n ![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251107_cd_2531.jpg\"\/)
\n
\n
\n The Heritage jersey highlights the 13 different cultures of players who have represented the Australian Jillaroos so far.
\n \u00a9Chloe Davis \/ NRL Images
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
For coach Jess Skinner, it was a culmination of months of work and collaboration behind the scenes with Joseph and past players to see the jersey come to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Heritage jersey started as an idea in our last campaign and we really wanted to bring all of the cultural backgrounds of all of our past players to the fore,\u201d Skinner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing in the 30-year anniversary, it was a great opportunity to make that connection \u2026 we reached out to a few of the past players and they were happy to (give us feedback to) help bring that together and bring that to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a representation that as Australians, we have many different cultures.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always loved \u2018we are one, but we are many\u2019 [from \u2018I am Australian\u2019] and that is the Heritage jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what cultural background you come from, the Australian jersey represents that too.<\/p>\n
“When we first were raised in this idea, Kennedy Cherrington was the one who put Joseph forward; she’d done some stuff with him and loved his work \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we met him, he just understood what we were trying to do and he was really passionate about what we’re doing as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also had a few conversations with some of the Jillaroos Old Girls \u2026 pulling together (thoughts on) what the jersey means, what cultural experiences they brought into the space.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I think about the jersey; it\u2019s unifying people and strengthening and connecting, they were the main words that would come out \u2026 Diversity is one of our strengths.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always talk about everyone bringing themselves to this team, and that representation of that jersey has just been beautifully put together by Joseph and the past players as a gift to the current playing group.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n ![\"Jillaroos](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/79952404_251026_cd_4732_20251026154751-1.jpg\"\/)
\n
\n
\n Jillaroos Kezie Apps and Sarah Togatuki with Samoa’s Pihuka Berryman-Duff and Taliah Fuimaono.
\n \u00a9Chloe Davis \/ NRL Images
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
As a Samoan-Australian, Jillaroos forward Sarah Togatuki said she \u201cfelt proud\u201d when she first saw the Heritage jersey and heard the story behind it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was teary when Joseph was explaining the jersey and how it carries the history, strength and connection of so many cultures that make up our team of past and present players,\u201d Togatuki said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s special knowing that it represents more than just the game, when we put it on it\u2019s a nice reminder about our identity and where every player came from.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important because our team is made up of women from all walks of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cCelebrating different cultures shows respect for each person\u2019s journey and reminds us that our diversity is our strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt brings us closer together and helps us play for something bigger than ourselves.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2060I\u2019m Samoan, born in Australia, and proud of both. My culture keeps me grounded; it\u2019s where my values of faith, family, and hard work come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cCarrying that with me every time I pull on the green and gold means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a Jillaroos \u2018Old Girl\u2019, Veronica White was one of the people who contributed her thoughts to the jersey\u2019s concept.<\/p>\n
The NRL Hall of Famer said it was important to ensure everyone\u2019s contribution to the team was recognised.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just by your state or club of origin, but your cultural and ancestral links which have physically and spiritually given you the opportunity and freedom to pursue your potential in rugby league,\u201d White said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jersey is symbolic of all of these, including the team\u2019s core values which they uphold as leaders of the next generation of female rugby league players in not only Australia, but abroad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur pioneers and foundation players hold the jersey in such high esteem, simply because they had to sacrifice so much to just play the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs they say \u201cif you can\u2019t see it, you can\u2019t be it\u201d; so, we had to create those opportunities not only for ourselves, but for the many women and girls who ever dreamt about having those same opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a player, I never reached my potential in the game. I loved playing the game, embracing the spirit and friendships I hold today, and representing the Jillaroos \u2013 that became my aspiration \u2026 Demanding equity for every women and girl has been a personal journey for me, and it continues to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n ![\"Quincy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251107_cd_1240.jpg\"\/)
\n
\n
\n Quincy Dodd at Jillaroos training in the Heritage jersey.
\n \u00a9Chloe Davis \/ NRL Images
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Proud Dharug Indigenous woman Quincy Dodd was \u201chonoured\u201d to be part of the playing group wearing it for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Heritage jersey represents the roots of each player of where they come from, who they represent, and the values that defines each player,\u201d Dodd said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a way to honour the ancestors and community, showing that their story continues through the Jillaroos.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe moments that shaped what the team stands for today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a reminder that the past and present are a part of something bigger than just their name; but their culture and who they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cA legacy built on hard work, pride, and passion. Wearing it can feel like carrying forward the spirit of those who came before us.<\/p>\n
\n 599″, “>809”, “>959″]”
\n data-eqio-prefix=”video-post-screen”
\n ref=”root”
\n ><\/p>\n
\n
\n Up Next
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n \/
\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Replay
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Play Next
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Inside Camp: Keilee Joseph<\/p>\n
\u201cI got quite emotional once Joseph talked about the journey of making the jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe mentioned it took a while, but wow! He did an amazing masterpiece.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, a heritage jersey is about belonging.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just fabric and colours, it\u2019s memories, pride, and connection. It reminds me of the people who inspired me, the moments that made me proud, and the journey that continues.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the Jillaroos prepare to defend their Pacific Championship title against the Kiwi Ferns, the squad have been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":269513,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-269512","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-national-rugby-league","11":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","12":"tag-nrl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=269512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/269512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/269513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=269512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=269512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=269512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}