How Tonegato eventually answered Jillaroos call up to World Cup stage

It was at the hairdressers when Emma Tonegato, trying to come to terms with her omission from the Jillaroos World Cup squad, missed a very important call.

When Knights star Tamika Upton withdrew from the squad due to a calf injury on Tuesday, the Dragons fullback admitted she was lying in the salon basin getting her hair washed when Jillaroos coach Brad Donald was, unsuccessfully, ringing to offer her a late call-up to the Australian World Cup team.

“Once I walked out of the hair salon I saw there was a call from Brad (Donald) and Kylie (Hilder) so I called them back and they told me I was in the squad," Tonegato told NRL.com on Wednesday.

“First I called my family and then called them back telling them I had decided to take him up on the offer.

“Then I had to call my boss and ask for six weeks off but I’m lucky that everyone is super supportive.

They all just said I’ve got to go and chase my dreams.

Newest Jillaroos squad member Emma Tonegato

“It’s a bit of a juggle but at the end of the day it’s a chance to represent Australia.”

The 27-year-old was a surprise omission from the original team announcement, with coach Brad Donald acknowledging it was tough to select the final 24 players.

But just 24 hours after being selected, Knights duo Millie Boyle and Upton both withdrew from the team, opening spots for Dragon Shaylee Bent and Tonegato to join the green and gold girls.

“I was very disappointed originally. I got a call from Brad that I didn’t get selected and I was pretty gutted,” Tonegato said.

“When I saw the team list and I just kind of zoned out, didn’t go on my phone and went to the beach for some me time.

“I was just starting to come to terms with it and then I got the call up so it was a big rollercoaster but I’m super excited to be going with the girls.”

Tonegato will take her career full circle when the competition kicks off in November, after the then-18-year-old schoolgirl helped the Jillaroos create history by beating the Kiwi Ferns in the final of the 2013 World Cup, also in England.

“I was such a baby then, I think I was about 10 kilos lighter than what I am now and I played out on the wing," Tonegato laughed.

“It was an awesome experience and it’s come full circle being back here with Sammy [Bremner] and Ali [Brigginshaw] who were also in the squad that year.

“My family came over as well that year which was really cool. I was in Year 12, I missed a lot of school that year so I don’t know how I even got an ATAR.”

After scoring three tries in a pool match against France, Tonegato was called up to replace the injured Karina Brown on the wing in the final, with the Jillaroos going on to win the final 22-12 and break the Kiwi Ferns' 13-year reign.

Brad Donald’s side will begin their World Cup campaign with a pool match against Cook Islands on November 2 in York, before fixtures with France and New Zealand who are headlined by Dally M Player of the Year Raecene McGregor.

“Raecene [McGregor] will definitely be steering the Kiwis around well and they’ve got a bunch of girls that have just come off awesome NRLW seasons so I think they’ll definitely be putting their best foot forward,” she said.

“It’s always such a great game against New Zealand and I feel like the passion always comes out, so when we verse them I think it’ll be a great game.”

Since her Jillaroo debut, Tonegato has gone on to win an Olympic gold medal as a member of the Women's Rugby Sevens team and was awarded joint 2021 Dally M Player of the Year after a breakout NRLW season earlier this year.

The full-time occupational therapist said not only has she grown as a rugby league player but “the professionalism” of the competition is what stands out in her second tour with the Jillaroos.

“Back then it was just a see you at the airport kind of thing, we never had anything like the kit fittings today or especially all of the media attention,” she said.

“The big thing for me was putting the jerseys on, they’re so feminine and fit so well whereas I remember in 2013 the jersey and shorts were huge.

“It’s so great to see the game treating us as professional athletes, it’s awesome to see.”