'We want to be better': Kiwi Ferns stars embrace battle for World Cup spots

Hale, Nicholls and St George Illawarra’s Brooke Anderson are captains of their respective clubs and there are other New Zealand players in leadership positions across the NRLW, including Broncos prop Brianna Clark, who represented the premiers at Monday’s NRLW launch in Sydney.

Mato, who is making her return for the Broncos after missing last season while pregnant with son Charnze-Pati, and Cherrington also bring experience and an understanding of what it takes to be successful on the game’s biggest stage after being members of the 2022 World Cup winning Jillaroos side.

“I know that deep down inside, they've always wanted to represent their country and their family, so it was good to have them at our camp,” Nicholls said.

“They got an insight into who we are and what we do, and we just really welcomed them with open arms because they are family, they are from New Zealand.

“For us, it's exciting because obviously they used to play for the Jillaroos and they bring a lot of experience. They're very passionate and I think I think it's about more than just rugby league for them; it's about their family and where they come from.

“You could tell that everything they spoke about was from the heart and you know that this year is going to be a big one for them. They have got to earn their spots, and I know that they will because you can just tell from the way they speak that they are really invested and they want to be there.”

With more stars expected to put their hand up to represent their Kiwi heritage and the likes of Stacey Waaka, Sariah Paki and Madison Ashby, who have returned to the game from rugby sevens, also being eligible, the competition for places in Ricky Henry’s World Cup squad will be fierce.

“If you look across the game at how many girls are tied to New Zealand, there are contenders across the board so it's just going to be, ‘we're all Kiwi girls and we're all fighting for a spot’,” Hale said.

“We're all fighting for that end goal of winning the World Cup and that healthy competition is only going to make ourselves better and our sister next to us better, so I think it puts the game in New Zealand in really good stead.

“It adds competition for jerseys, it adds another layer of professionalism and experience, so it is really going to give Ricky a headache - and a nightmare at that - because he's got so many great candidates to choose from.”

Anderson, who played for Australia in rugby sevens but chose to represent her mother’s nation of birth after she joined the NRLW, backed the IRL’s decision to allow players who were eligible for New Zealand or England to switch from the Jillaroos.   

“The Australian squad is amazing and we are trying to bridge this gap, so I think that by opening up the rules it is only going to make the international game better,” Anderson said.

“We can really use players like Shannon and Kennedy in the Kiwi Ferns, so it is going to be really exciting to see how the squad for the World Cup turns out.

“This is what it should have been like from the start, let people represent where they come from and where they are passionate about representing and I think the game will go to the next level this year at the World Cup.”

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.