Kezie Apps to co-captain Jillaroos
Kezie Apps is one of 11 Westpac NSW women’s Origin players named in the Jillaroos squad today for the upcoming three-week Pacific Championships.
Apps has been named Jillaroos co-captain with Maroons skipper Ali Brigginshaw, with the pair sharing duties alongside Sam Bremner at the 2022 World Cup.
Apps has already been named captain of the Prime Minister’s XIII to take on the PNG Orchids in Port Moresby next Sunday 13 October.
The Jillaroos then launch their 2024 Pacific Championships campaign against the Orchids at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday 18 October before facing the Kiwi Ferns in Christchurch on 27 October. A third Test is earmarked for CommBank Stadium on 10 November.
Three NSW Origin stars from the NRLW’s new Premiers, Sydney Roosters - Millie Elliott, Jess Sergis and Isabelle Kelly - have been selected along with Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks duo Tiana Penitani and Quincy Dodd. The Roosters beat the Sharks 32-28 in Sunday's Grand Final.
Dodd, a regular in the NRL Indigenous All Stars team, is one of five debutants in the squad alongside NSW women’s Origin team members Sara Togatuki (Wests Tigers) and Olivia Higgins (Newcastle Knights).
Penitani is making her comeback to the Jillaroos after leading Tonga in last year’s Pacific Championships and missing the World Cup due to her wedding plans.
Sharks teammate Emma Tonegato was unavailable this year because she is due to be married.
Incumbents to miss out from Australia’s last Test in November – a 16-12 loss to New Zealand – include True Blues Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast Titans), and newly-crowned Dally M medallist, Olivia Kernick (Sydney Roosters).
The 2024 Jillaroos squad in alphabetical order (with NSW in bold) is: Tarryn Aiken (Roosters), Kezie Apps (Wests Tigers, co-captain), Ali Brigginshaw (Broncos, co-captain), Lauren Brown (Titans), Abbi Church (Eels) Yasmin Clydsdale (Knights), Quincy Dodd (Sharks), Millie Elliott (Roosters), Jessika Elliston (Titans), Olivia Higgins (Knights), Keilee Joseph (Broncos), Isabelle Kelly (Roosters), Shannon Mato (Titans), Mahalia Murphy (Eels), Tiana Penitani (Sharks), Julia Robinson (Broncos), Simaima Taufa (Raiders), Jess Sergis (Roosters), Sara Togatuki (Wests Tigers), Tamika Upton (Knights), Jakiya Whitfeld (Cowboys).