Millie Elliott Discusses Growth of Women's Rugby League
Jillaroos star Millie Elliott shares her insights on the expanding women's rugby league and the need for parity among nations.
Women's Rugby League is Expanding
Millie Elliott, a prominent prop for the Jillaroos, expressed her excitement about the growth of women's rugby league. During her appearance on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters: Rugby League, she emphasized the need to bridge the performance gap between various nations.
Jillaroos' Strong Start in the World Cup
The Jillaroos have showcased their strength in the Rugby League World Cup, securing commanding victories over Samoa with a score of 40-0 and England at 78-0. These achievements highlight the team's exceptional talent and preparation.
Development of International Competitions
In a conversation led by David Riccio, the panel discussed the international growth of women's rugby. Riccio asked Elliott about the pathways for countries like Wales to cultivate their talent. Elliott referenced the men’s league as a successful model to emulate:
“Look, internationally, you’ve only got to look at the men’s game to see how well the NRL are doing and how many players are represented in other countries, whether that’s our Pacifica Nations or whether it’s in the Super League,” Elliott explained.
Cross-Sport Opportunities
Elliott mentioned that the influx of talent from other sports could positively influence the women's game. She noted:
“To have those competitions mimicked so that the females can be playing more often and whether it’s coming from other sports and they’re coming over to the NRLW to play as it grows, whether that’s people from England or Wales or France…our game is getting bigger and there are some incredible athletes that are playing other sports, rugby union per se.”
Concerns Over Lopsided Scores
Despite the successes, Elliott acknowledged concerns regarding some one-sided match outcomes. She stated:
“Getting rugby league to be more of that dominant presence internationally would be the goal because we don’t want to see these blowout scores. We know it doesn’t look good for the game, but what are we going to do? You have a try, we have a try.”
Looking to the Future
Elliott credited the NRL and its efforts in the NRLW for the current success of the Jillaroos, while also expressing a desire to see improvement across the board:
“It’s a credit to the NRL of what they have done in the NRLW to why the Jillaroos are so successful today, but we’d love to see the gap reduced, absolutely.”
This insightful interview aired at 8:15 PM AEDT on Channel 7 and is available to stream on 7plus.