The last time Keilee Joseph played in a World Cup, her family was on the other side of the world and she watched the final from the sideline.
Four years on, the 24-year-old is determined this one will be different.
“Sitting on the sideline during the last World Cup, I want to be there playing the best of the best for this World Cup, so hopefully that’ll be the case,” Joseph said.
“I just want to be able to play as many games in this colour as I can, because it’s the best jersey in the world.”
Match Highlights: Australia v New Zealand
Joseph made her Australian debut at the 2022 World Cup in England and earned selection for the semi-final, but she watched her teammates lift the trophy from the sidelines. It’s a moment that still stings, and it’s driving her to chase a different ending this time.
She scored a try in the Jillaroos’ opener against Samoa but missed selection for last week’s thumping of England.
On Sunday she returns to the bench for the final pool clash with Wales, with a chance to show coach Jess Skinner what impact the 53-game NRLW forward can bring to the red-hot Aussie side.
“You want to be playing each game, so hopefully from now on, but we’ll see what happens. I’ll do whatever for the team,” she said.
“I’m trying my best to play in this grand final, so I’m just going to put my best foot forward.”
Match: Australia v Wales
Round 3 -
home Team
Australia
1st Position
away Team
Wales
4th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
This time, there will be familiar faces in the crowd, with Joseph's family to watch the prop represent her country.
“The last World Cup was in England, so I didn’t have them there, but having family will make it even more special,” she said.
“It’s really special doing it for my family and doing it in front of my family to make them proud.”
Joseph credits her family, and her mum in particular, for getting her into rugby league as an 11-year-old.
She has since represented Queensland nine times and is about to pull on the green and gold for the 10th time.
Keilee Joseph Try
“I started playing when I was 11, and that was on the back of my mum pushing me into playing it. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here, so I’m glad she did,” she said.
“I wouldn’t be here without them. They’ve always had my back and made me the player I am today.”
Joseph is Queensland’s starting lock, but in the Jillaroos camp she sits behind Roosters star Olivia Kernick and admits watching from the sidelines isn’t easy.
“It’s that thing where you just want to get out there. It’s hard to watch, you can’t sit still, but the girls really took it away last week,” she said.
With New Zealand looming in the knockout stages, Joseph believes the Jillaroos are still building.
“We’re getting better and better each week, and I’m just excited to see what we’ll be doing against the New Zealand girls in a couple of weeks,” she said.
“We’re our own critics at the moment.”
- Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup live on Seven and 7plus Sport in Australia and on Sky Sport in New Zealand.
