Bremner pulls pin on crucial semi-final

JILLAROOS sensation Sam Bremner has made a huge sacrifice ahead of today’s World Cup semi-final clash with Canada, ruling herself out of the must-win match.

The star fullback, who is often dubbed the female Billy Slater, was expected to make her return for Australia today but decided she was not ready after yesterday’s captain’s run in Wollongong.

Bremner has not played a game since July’s interstate challenge after the NSW No.1 suffered a grade two ankle syndesmosis injury.

She hoped to return in the World Cup, but a knock to her leg at a training session has delayed her comeback.

Coach Brad Donald confirmed yesterday that while things were looking promising for Bremner earlier in the week, she would not take to the field today despite completing the entire session.

“She came up (after training) and said she’s only about 80 per cent at the moment,” he said. “She wanted to make a call for the team. She knew she wasn’t going to be as quick as what she can be because of the tenderness in the leg.

“She also didn’t want to risk getting another whack on it.

“It’s a really selfless call from her. But that’s not unexpected in this team and certainly not unexpected from Sammy.”

Bremner has had a horror run with injury in the past two years. She sustained two leg fractures in 2016, then missed the Anzac Test in May through a concussion. She then injured the ankle in July, which ruled her out of Australia’s trip to Papua New Guinea.

Donald said her off-field presence was now helping the Jillaroos in their quest to retain the World Cup. WOMEN’S RLWC SEMI-FINAL