The Jillaroos opened their tournament campaign with a comprehensive forty-nil victory over Fetu Samoa at Commbank Stadium in Sydney on Tuesday. Australia eased off in the second half, managing just two tries after the break.
Jocelyn Kelleher delivered an assured performance with both boot and hand on her debut at five-eighth. Her display vindicated coach Jess Skinner’s decision to leave Ali Brigginshaw out of the squad and Jesse Southwell out of the matchday eighteen.
Kelleher kicked six out of seven conversions on her international debut. Her comfort on the field was aided by Roosters NRLW premiership-winning connections running throughout the team. Number seven Tarryn Aiken played second receiver outside Kelleher.
The halves were supported by clubmates Olivia Kernick at lock, Keely Nizza at bench hooker, Millie Elliott in the front row, and centres Jess Sergis and captain Isabelle Kelly.
Australia captain Isabelle Kelly admitted after the match that her side has plenty of room for improvement. "It was a bit scrappy from us in bits there," she said. "But it’s the start of the tournament, a new team playing together, so I’m excited to see what comes next."
Australia quelled a spirited opening from Samoa, who were playing their first World Cup match since 2008. The Samoan lineup included Taliah Fuimaono and Evania Isa’ako, both of whom had previously played for the Jillaroos.
Isa’ako played for Australia in the twenty twenty-two World Cup final and scored the final try. The team also featured Queensland State of Origin centre Ivana Lolesio and prop Amber Hall.
Early in the match, Samoa threatened an upset after a penalty and a handling error handed them repeat sets at the Australian line. They resisted taking two points from penalties, but a dropped ball from fullback Destiny Mino-Sinapati let the Jillaroos off the hook.
Within minutes, Australia crossed through Jaime Chapman off a simple spread left. A cut-out pass from Tamika Upton handed the winger enough space to finish easily. Minutes later, Aiken lofted the ball out to Julia Robinson to score on the right. Robinson ignored the path to the corner, taking three tacklers over the line.
Kelleher opened her international career with a fading conversion from the sideline. A trademark bomb forced a handling error from Samoa, setting up an attacking set that saw backrower Shaylee Bent cross untouched.
Nizza then streamed through the middle with a dummy and a fend to score Australia’s fourth try. Just before halftime, Kelleher broke through the line and found Kernick.
Early in the second period, Kernick put Keilee Joseph over with a short-ball. The Jillaroos’ momentum then slowed as they looked ahead to their next pool match against England in Perth.
Samoa mounted a heroic defensive effort in the second half, keeping the Jillaroos out on multiple occasions. Prop Laikha Clarke came within millimetres of scoring before knocking on with ten minutes remaining.
Sergis crossed late to seal the result, while teenage winger Freedom Crichton Ropati delivered a crunching tackle on Tiana Penitani Gray. On an evening that also featured the men’s Samoa side defeating France seventy-eight to four, the low turnout at Commbank Stadium showed that interest in the tournament has room for improvement.
