Criticism Surrounds Jillaroos Selections Ahead of Pacific Championships
The Australian women’s rugby league team, the Jillaroos, is facing intense scrutiny over coach Brad Donald’s selection decisions for the upcoming Pacific Championships. The omission of Dally M Medallist Olivia Kernick has sparked heated debate among fans and journalists alike.
Kernick’s Absence Raises Eyebrows
Kernick’s exclusion from the 21-player squad has been met with widespread criticism, particularly given her outstanding performance in the Sydney Roosters’ NRLW grand final victory just days earlier. Donald has defended his decision, citing Mahalia Murphy’s versatility as the reason for her selection over Kernick.
Brigginshaw Hits Back at Critics
Jillaroos co-captain Ali Brigginshaw has come out in support of her coach, slamming the media for their perceived bias against the women’s game. “They only want to talk about it for a small amount of time,” Brigginshaw said. “They’re not there week in, week out talking about our game. They only want to show up when there’s something negative to talk about.”
Lack of Context Criticized
Brigginshaw believes that Donald’s critics lack context, and that the playing group has handled the external scrutiny well. “It’s quite disappointing when journalists want to make a few comments, but they don’t know the true story,” she said.
Injury Clouds Loom Over Jillaroos
Meanwhile, utility Lauren Brown will undergo scans on Monday after suffering a hamstring injury in Australia’s 50-0 defeat of PNG in the Prime Ministers’ XIII match. The situation could give Donald the opportunity to vindicate his claims that Kernick would be the next player selected in the event of an injury.
Replacement Options Weighed
Newcastle’s Jesse Southwell is a potential replacement for Brown, having excelled in the Prime Ministers’ XIII defeat of PNG. A firm decision on Brown’s replacement may be held off until later in the week, with the Jillaroos set to face PNG at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Leave a Reply