Brigginshaw told foxsports.com.au<\/a>. <\/p>\n\u201cSo if Jess (Skinner) calls me next year and says, \u2018Hey, I think we need you, there\u2019s been a couple of injuries\u2019, and I\u2019m in the right headspace to play, I\u2019ll play. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not going to stand in anyone\u2019s way, you know. Tarryn (Aiken) and Jesse (Southwell) are the future of the halves pairing here. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey deserve that, they work extremely hard and they\u2019re great athletes, great players. It\u2019s time to let them run the show and I\u2019ll do my part in any team.\u201d <\/p>\n
A World Cup performance from Brigginshaw could make history – she would potentially become the equal most-capped Jillaroo of all time, alongside Tahnee Norris. <\/p>\n
With the Jillaroos co-captain announcing earlier in the year that 2026 would be her final NRLW season, a World Cup would be the perfect way to cap off her incredible career. <\/p>\n
But if Aiken, Southwell and Verran are all fully fit, and Jocelyn Kelleher keeps rising … a tough decision looms. The fact that Brigginshaw and Southwell will now partner up for the NRLW season at Brisbane prove be a factor, as will the legend\u2019s vast experience. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Ali Brigginshaw <\/p>\n
Ali Brigginshaw won\u2019t stand in the way of younger halves, but is still doing a job for the Jillaroos.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
HALFBACK<\/p>\n
Incumbent: Jesse Southwell <\/p>\n
Contenders: Tarryn Aiken, Jocelyn Kelleher <\/p>\n
Analysis: Despite only making her Jillaroos debut this year, Jesse Southwell has proven herself as an international force and the top contender for the No.7 jersey moving forward. <\/p>\n
At just 20-years-old, Southwell guided NSW to an Origin win as well as taking the Knights to the finals in 2025. <\/p>\n
After being named Dally M Halfback of the Year, Southwell was a clear choice for a Test call-up, following an ACL injury to Tarryn Aiken. <\/p>\n
After a dominant performance from Southwell during the Pacific Championships, Skinner will be in for a difficult choice when it comes to choosing a starting halfback and the timeline of Aiken\u2019s return is a huge factor. <\/p>\n
After suffering her injury in Round 11 this year, Aiken could be out for up to 12 months, putting a Test call-up in some doubt. If she can make a fast recovery, the selection battle is on \u2013 though both likely make the squad at any rate. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Jesse Southwell <\/p>\n
Jesse Southwell made a terrific start to her career in green and gold. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied<\/p>\n
HOOKER<\/p>\n
Incumbent: Olivia Higgins <\/p>\n
Contenders: Keeley Davis, Quincy Dodd, Emma Manzelmann <\/p>\n
Analysis: Coming in as a squad replacement for injured rookie Makenzie Weale, Knights hooker Olivia Higgins made a surprising bolt from nowhere to the starting No.9 jersey for the final after starting hooker Keeley Davis also went down. <\/p>\n
Despite her impressive 2024 Jillaroos debut, a Las Vegas appearance and two years of Origin experience, selection had initially eluded the 33-year-old Higgins. But she showed again in the final that she\u2019s elite material and is now right back in contention for the World Cup. <\/p>\n
Quincy Dodd played as the second hooker for the entire series after an injury-hit NRL season and impressed, though being overlooked as the starter for the final was an interesting call on her from Skinner. <\/p>\n
Another top contender is Emma Manzelmann who missed out on a Pacific Championships nod despite being named Dally M Hooker of the Year. The Cowboys star made a 2023 Jillaroos debut and averaged 30 tackles and 52 running metres per game this season, but apparently trails David, Dodd and Higgins in the Test pecking order. <\/p>\n
Davis did nothing wrong before copping an elbow injury and seems the leading pick \u2013 but this is a another hotly-contested spot. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Keeley Davis <\/p>\n
Olivia Higgins made a sudden return to the Jillaroos starting line-up.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
PROP<\/p>\n
Incumbent: Jessika Elliston and Ellie Johnston <\/p>\n
Contenders: Millie Elliott, Shannon Mato, Rima Butler, Sarah Togatuki, Makenzie Weale, Sophie Holyman <\/p>\n
Analysis: A couple of massive potential comebacks here in the form of Millie Elliott and Shannon Mato, who were the starting props for Australia\u2019s 2024 Pacific Championships final. Both are new mums, with Elliott set to return with the Roosters and Mato tipped to join Brisbane after a release from the Titans, if she plays at all next season. <\/p>\n
Jessika Elliston took huge strides this season, winning a Dally M Prop of the Year nod and starting every game in the Pac Champs. At 28, she\u2019s hitting her prime with full force. <\/p>\n
Although first named on the interchange, Ellie Johnston starred for the side when starting both games against New Zealand. She had a big NRLW season and is well and truly in the World Cup mix, as is Roosters powerhouse Rima Butler. <\/p>\n
The potential returns will play a big part here, and Elliott seems a good bet to resume her mantle as a star of the game, but Elliston also looks to have found a new level in her career. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Millie Elliott and Jessika Elliston <\/p>\n
Jillaroos star Millie Elliott will be back with a bang next season. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied<\/p>\n
SECOND-ROW<\/p>\n
Incumbent: Kezie Apps and Yasmin Clydsdale <\/p>\n
Contenders: Romy Teitzel, Jasmin Strange, Lauren Dam <\/p>\n
Analysis: Broncos premiership hero Romy Teitzel was a controversial omission from the Pacific Championships squad after a terrific NRLW campaign in which she was also the competition\u2019s leading pointscorer. If her form holds next season, she has to be a strong chance to at least make the squad. <\/p>\n
Kezie Apps remains co-captain and her form is holding strong despite a tough couple of seasons at Wests Tigers, and at 34 years old. Provided she\u2019s fit and firing, her toughness and experience will be invaluable at the World Cup. <\/p>\n
Yasmin Clysdale is a class act and was dominant throughout the Pac Champs. The Knights captain is surely locked in. <\/p>\n
Edge backrow is not quite as flush with options as some other spots, evidenced by Jess Sergis pinch-hitting there in the Pac Champs final. Sergis\u2019 Roosters teammate Jasmin Strange could be a smokey after successfully converting from the outside backs, though she\u2019s also yet to debut in Origin. Ditto for Brisbane\u2019s Lauren Dam, an underrated player. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Kezie Apps and Yasmin Clydsdale <\/p>\n
Kezie Apps is eyeing another World Cup campaign with the Jillaroos.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
LOCK<\/p>\n
Incumbent: Olivia Kernick <\/p>\n
Contenders: Keilee Joseph, Makenzie Weale, Kennedy Cherrington, Simaima Taufa <\/p>\n
Analysis: Again named Dally M Lock of the Year, Olivia Kernick is a standout at No.13 despite Australia boasting some real class in the position. She looks virtually immovable, to the same degree as Tamika Upton at No.1. <\/p>\n
Keilee Joseph is a quality player and may get more of a chance to stand out at NRLW next season after moving from the Broncos to Parramatta. Meanwhile, Makenzie Weale was initially one the big winners of Jillaroos selection after earning a belated squad call-up that proved her star is rising. <\/p>\n
Early verdict: Olivia Kernick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With Dally M stars snubbed and a player outside the original squad suddenly earning a start in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":288860,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[121831,2095,64,63,689,7292,166387,166409,166405,2667,129101,166394,166406,132832,166391,12180,12183,166402,166401,166400,166396,139050,54303,54321,114062,166408,166393,166407,166397,16042,39119,54353,19462,2623,120945,52918,166386,166390,166403,761,762,2627,673,1736,10668,4495,2041,2067,158,677,158119,99980,29107,68832,701,121835,166389,159,130243,27750,54346,85,166398,98321,146128,49980,166388,54355,122552,166395,2614,166399,4515,166392,76306,166404],"class_list":["post-288859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-abbi-church","tag-america","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-capital-territory","tag-belated-squad-call-up","tag-bold-plan","tag-both-isabelle-kelly","tag-canberra","tag-dally-m-halfback","tag-dally-m-hooker","tag-dally-m-prop","tag-dally-m-team","tag-dally-m-winger","tag-dominant-display","tag-dominant-performance","tag-edge-backrow","tag-elbow-injury","tag-electric-option","tag-elite-material","tag-ellie-johnston","tag-emma-manzelmann","tag-emma-verran","tag-grand-final-hero","tag-incredible-performances","tag-interesting-call","tag-international-force","tag-jasmin-strange","tag-jess-skinner","tag-jesse-southwell","tag-jocelyn-kelleher","tag-keeley-davis","tag-las-vegas","tag-lauren-dam","tag-league-world-cup","tag-makenzie-weale","tag-makeshift-role","tag-massive-returning-firepower","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nevada","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-zealand","tag-newcastle","tag-newcastle-knights","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-pacific-championship-final","tag-pecking-order","tag-premiership-hero","tag-quality-player","tag-queensland","tag-quincy-dodd","tag-real-class","tag-rugby-league","tag-selection-battle","tag-selection-squeeze","tag-shannon-mato","tag-sports","tag-squad-replacement","tag-starting-hooker","tag-starting-line-up","tag-starting-side","tag-sudden-return","tag-tamika-upton","tag-top-contender","tag-tough-decision-looms","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-vast-experience","tag-wests-tigers","tag-wing-spot","tag-world-cup-squad","tag-young-halves-rising"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288859","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=288859"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288859\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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