After knocking off New Zealand in the Pacific Cup final, the Jillaroos have turned their attention to Las Vegas and March's historic Test against England at Allegiant Stadium.
The Jillaroos re-affirmed their standing as the world's No.1 team after avenging last year's 12-6 loss to the Kiwi Ferns with a 24-4 triumph at CommBank Stadium.
Star centre Isabelle Kelly said the Jillaroos were focused on strong defensive efforts as a key to their success, with Australia not conceding a try for 208 minutes in the tournament until Kiwi Ferns winger Leianne Tufuga scored just before full-time.
With the NRLW competition not due to start until mid-year, the Jillaroos also had an eye on their first Test against England since 2017 on March 1 in Las Vegas.
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"It was our biggest focus leading into this campaign," Kelly said. "I think last year we let ourselves down a fair bit ... so we wanted to make sure leading into this against the Kiwis that we were going to be strong.
"We've worked really hard this campaign as a group. We had a goal that we set out, and that was to make sure that we're building into Vegas and then the next year and then into the World Cup.”
The historic decision to take the Test across the Pacific Ocean to the United States will showcase women's rugby league to a new audience and potential playing talent.
Isabelle Kelly Try
Kelly has commended the NRL for taking the sport over to North America, saying there is a ready-made market of athletes with all the right attributes to succeed in rugby league.
“I think when you look at a lot of USA athletes, they've already got everything that you need to play rugby league," Kelly said.
"I think taking the game over there and seeing how competitive it is with the England girls, I think that's really going to take it leaps and bounds in getting them to come over and play."
Kelly also believes the United States can become a competitive force at international level in years to come.
“I think there's some really great athletes there," the Sydney Roosters captain said. "We've had a few come over, and we had one [Liz Tafuna] come over.
"She had to go back, but I think they're going to be really good leading into the next few years for the World Cup”.
Jillaroos co-captain Ali Brigginshaw - one of just three survivors from the 2017 World Cup clash with England, along with Kelly and Kezie Apps - said she was excited about the Vegas Test.
However, Brigginshaw insisted the playing group were focused on winning the Pacific Championship before looking ahead to England.
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“We lay a platform, and we want to be number one in the world, and that comes down to standards on and off the field. We don't look at who we're playing," Brigginshaw said.
"I've played England a couple of times, so I try to tell the girls what that's like and I know I'll get them up when it's time to go to Vegas.”
Jillaroos coach Brad Donald highlighted the importance of growing the international game and said the World Cup holders would also be involved in fan engagement events and the NRL Combine in Vegas.
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“What I'm passionate about is actually growing women's rugby league, that's always been my passion and that's why I'm sitting here," Donald said.
"I was fortunate enough to run the Combine this year and some Nines events in Las Vegas, so we've seen the potential.
"For us to take that to the US and show the passion that we've got for our sport in the female space is going to be huge, and these girls can't wait to go and do the clinics and promote the game, as well as play the game on Allegiant Stadium”.
