Amy Hardaster says that overcoming Australia will be a “game changing” for the Ladies Rugs League in England.
Jillarooos is the dominant power in the international game, where it won the past three World Cup and lost only once since 2016.
This strength is also clear at the club level, as the NRL investment level allows women to have a full-time and semi-professional players while their counterparts in the Premier League role in England either for expenditures or for free.
This means that Australia is the strong favorite of Saturday's test against England in Las Vegas.
No English or British women have been defeated in Australia since 2002 – five defeats – but Hardcoxel from St. Helen has welcomed the challenge of overthrowing world champions.
“Hit them, for me, it will be the absolute change of the game,” she says. “I think all over the world, and all over our country, will change the opinions of people. Think about the strength of this for the women's team.
“Certainly it will change a lot from moving forward, and I think a lot of doors will open in front of the rugby game for English women.”
HardCastle, 35, is one of the three players in the England team – alongside Captain Judy Caningham and their teammate at St. Helen's club Shona Hell – who appeared in their last meeting with Australia, a 38-0 defeat in the 2017 World Cup.
In response to a question about whether she feels that England has a better team now than they did after that, Hardkasal adds: “Yes, definitely.
βSeventeen years old I was in this team, and when I started for the first time, we didn't already play many games. But we are now more consistent.
“The Premier League is improving. I find that a group of girls and women that we choose from now is better because we do not lose them in front of other sports, because our role is improving.
“With the opportunities with England, why don't you want to be part of it?
“So, I think, especially going to the World Cup, we have faster, stronger, more west and smarter in what we do. I haven't believed in it before, but I think we have one of the best England teams facing Gilaros.”
