Jillaroos coach Jess Skinner will invite Broncos, Queensland, and Australian legend Ali Brigginshaw to be around the 2026 World Cup squad despite the 36-year-old being overlooked when the line-up was announced on Monday.
Brigginshaw has played 27 Tests since making her debut in 2011, including winning three World Cups in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
But after a 30-6 loss to the Roosters in Sunday’s night’s NRLW grand final, Brigginshaw failed to make the cut for the 23-player squad, which meets Samoa in the opening World Cup pool game on Friday October 16 at CommBank Stadium.
A veteran of 20 Tests and two World Cup wins, Isabelle Kelly has been promoted to Jillaroos captain after leading the Roosters to grand final glory.
“One of the hardest phone calls I’ve had to make as a coach to a player was this morning,” Skinner said of contacting Brigginshaw with the news.
“She’s won three World Cups and been player of the match for two of those finals. She’s a Golden Boot winner and she’s served this jersey for over 17 years.
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Jess Skinner names the RLWC2026 Jillaroos squad
“So that was a decision that was really hard to make… the thing with Ali is that she’s a legend of the game and the things she has done in our jersey have been exceptional.
“From our end we’d absolutely love to have (her visit camp). We have always had past Jillaroos and injured Jillaroos players around the team.
“We always open our door to that. But we’ll give Ali some time to process this as it’s a big thing for her as she retires from the game.”
New Jillaroos skipper Isabelle Kelly with coach Jess Skinner.
Kelly, who has captain NSW Origin for the past two years and is a two-time Dally M Captain of the Year, said she intended to contact Brigginshaw as soon as possible.
“I’m obviously very disappointed that Ali is not going to be part of this campaign because she’s been such a pioneer for myself with showcasing what she can do in the game, and as a person and a leader,” Kelly said.
“She’s one of the first people I will reach out to. It will obviously be gut-wrenching for Ali and after yesterday… she’s been in my thoughts.
“In a few days Ali will process what she means to this group and what she’s done for this group.”
Kelly has played under seven different Jillaroos captains, but the most games were under Brigginshaw.
“I’m so honoured. I’ve been part of the Jillaroos squad a long time now, since I was 18 years old,” Kelly said.
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Whirlwind 24 hours for Kelly
“So the opportunity to be able to captain these girls is something I’ll never take lightly. I will lead with so much passion as I know what this Jillaroos jersey stands for.”
Skinner has three recognised halves in her squad – Roosters premiership-winning pair Jocelyn Kelleher and Tarryn Aiken and incumbent Australian No.7 Jesse Southwell.
There are five changes in the Jillaroos from the side that won last year’s Pacific Championships, which Aiken (ACL) and Millie Elliott (pregnancy) did not play in.
Elliott has returned to the green-and-gold after the birth of her daughter, Gigi, and is now extending her ‘retirement’ after playing her last club game for the Rooters in Sunday’s grand final.
Wests Tigers have been rewarded for a breakthrough season, with three players named – the evergreen Kezzie Apps alongside second-rower Shaylee Bent and Sarah Togatuki, who missed NSW selection this year but was named Dally M Prop of the Year.
North Queensland’s Mackenzie Weale is the only Cowboys representative and prop Simaima Taufa, who missed the last three games of Canberra’s season through suspension, is the only Raiders player in the squad.
The Jillaroos have eight Roosters named in a nod to their undefeated season and third NRLW title.
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From the Field: Sariah Paki
One of them is rookie Sariah Paki, who will fill the left edge back-rower’s spot vacated by the injured Knights captain Yasmin Meakes (ACL).
Paki was also eligible for New Zealand.
“I had a couple of chats with Sariah throughout the season. It wasn’t necessarily about her putting the jersey above anyone else but was about the expectations of the jersey,” Skinner said.
“I left it with her to make that decision. She’s played for Australia in two other sports (rugby Sevens and touch football) so to be able to come across makes her a unique and successful athlete.”
A two-time Olympian in Sevens (Tokyo, Paris) 24-year-old Paki won the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham with Southwell.
The 2026 Jillaroos World Cup squad: Isabelle Kelly (captain, Roosters), Tarryn Aiken (Roosters), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers), Shaylee Bent (Wests Tigers), Abbi Church (Eels), Jaime Chapman (Titans), Quincy Dodd (Sharks), Millie Elliott (Roosters), Olivia Higgins (Knights), Ellie Johnston (Sharks), Keilee Joseph (Eels), Jocelyn Kelleher (Roosters), Olivia Kernick (Roosters), Keeley Nizza (Roosters), Sariah Paki (Roosters), Tiana Penitani Gray (Sharks), Julia Robinson (Broncos), Jessica Sergis (Roosters), Jesse Southwell (Broncos), Simaima Taufa (Raiders), Sarah Togatuki (Wests Tigers), Tamika Upton (Broncos),
Makenzie Weale (Cowboys). Coach: Jess Skinner.