Jillaroos in focus: Halfback spot an intriguing World Cup battle
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They’re the main organisers on the field with a kicking game to boot.
The Jillaroos will be looking for stability in the halves when they pick a squad of 24 to travel to the U.K. at the end of the year to defend their World Cup crown.
From the likes of Tarsha Gale to Karyn Murphy, the Jillaroos have a rich history in the No.7 jersey.
In a 10-week editorial series, NRL.com takes a look at who is in contention for a World Cup spot in the Harvey Norman Australian Jillaroos by position, thanks to leading partners Harvey Norman.
- Position: Halfback
- World Cup spots available: 1-2
Traditionally around two general playmakers will be taken away on tour along with a couple of five-eighths or versatile players who can float in the halves.
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald used Ali Brigginshaw, Caitlin Moran, Maddie Studdon and Zahara Temara throughout the 2017 tournament, although Temara was used as a lock than in the halves throughout the campaign.
The Incumbent
Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos)
Incumbent Jillaroos captain Ali Brigginshaw played five-eighth during the last World Cup but in recent years has moved to halfback or lock at the Broncos and for Queensland.
Brigginshaw, who was player of the World Cup final in 2017, has been a mainstay in the halves since the last tournament played, featuring in the 2018 and 2019 Test matches against New Zealand.
She played a dominant role alongside Kirra Dibb when the pair last teamed up in green and gold in Wollongong, scoring a try, setting up two and producing 229 kick metres.
At 33, Brigginshaw could be set to play in her third and final World Cup, chasing a third-straight win, as the most experienced player in the squad.
The Contenders
There’s an emerging bunch of talented playmakers starting to make their mark at the senior level and although they’d have to produce something special to knock Brigginshaw off her perch in the No.7 jersey, many can put themselves in the frame for a potential back-up role.
Dragons halfback Rachael Pearson is an obvious candidate after enjoying a stellar first half of the year.
The 28-year-old has helped guide the Red V to a grand final appearance in April before helping the Sky Blues to their first Origin victory in two years last month.
Another big showing in the NRLW in August could see her almost too hard to ignore.
At the Titans, the club has recruited former Bronco Lauren Brown with a vision of playing her in the halves, therefore giving her a chance to push for a potential World Cup spot with a full NRLW season to play coming up.
Brown’s versatility is her biggest strength with the 27-year-old spending time at hooker, in the centres and off the bench throughout her NRLW career.
Brown has experience in the halves at the BMD Premiership level for Burleigh and is looking to craft her skills under former Jillaroos captain and halfback Karyn Murphy.
Roosters playmaker Zahara Temara has played five Tests for Australia but hasn’t been part of the squad since 2018.
After helping guide the Tricolours to a premiership win earlier this year, the cool and calm playmaker would bring composure to the side.
Temara, who also featured in our five-eighth analysis last month, lost her halves spot in women's Origin with Brown, Brigginshaw and Tarryn Aiken ahead of her.
Temara’s Roosters teammate Jocelyn Kelleher started the 2021 NRLW season at halfback before eventually moving to the bench, proving a handful as an impact player.
One player who appears less likely to be in the running but worthy of a mention is halfback Maddie Studdon, who is without an NRLW contract for the 2022 season after the Eels opted not to re-sign her.
Studdon has struggled in the past 12 months, losing her spot in the NSW Sky Blues side but was part of the Jillaroos' last World Cup campaign and has six Tests to her name.
Indigenous All Stars halfback Tahlulah Tillett also remains without an NRLW deal after former club Newcastle opted to look elsewhere for the second season.
The Bolter
Caitlin Moran
Not since the 2017 World Cup have footy fans seen Caitlin Moran at a senior level of the game, so you can be forgiven for responding with, who?
Moran was one of the best halfbacks in the game five years ago after scoring a crucial individual try and kicking a field goal in the World Cup final to get the Jillaroos home against the Kiwi Ferns at Suncorp Stadium.
At 21, Moran had the world at her feet before devastation struck shortly after with the Newcastle local rupturing her ACL just a fortnight after signing with the Broncos for their inaugural NRLW season in 2018.
Moran has since spent the past four years in the rugby league wilderness.
She made a low-key return to the field in the BMD Premiership in 2020 and has been plugging away in the Queensland competition before she signed with the Knights last month in a promising homecoming.
While a potential return to the Jillaroos appears to be a long shot, a strong showing in the NRLW later this year could put her into bold contention.
The Last Word
"If you look over the Jillaroos teams since Murph (Karyn Murphy) there's been no real consistency in the halves. It's been chopped and changed that many times since I've taken over. We've had Ali and Kirra, Ali and Caitlin and before that we had Zahara as well. We want a player with a good kicking game and who can organise but more importantly we've got a commitment to the Jillaroos' values and behaviours so we'll go with players who fit the bill. Rachael Pearson has started the season well and is a crafty halfback, Ali has obviously been there before. I put Lauren Brown in that category, not only at five-eighth but halfback as well and we've got heaps of young players coming through who we'll see in the halves at the World Cup in future years." - Jillaroos coach Brad Donald.
