WALLAROOS RETURN FROM GLOBAL HIATUS
TWO years in the international rugby wilderness has stoked a competitive fire in Lori Cramer, as the Wallaroos prepare for their road to the World Cup. As the pandemic crippled women's rugby union from being able to feature on the global stage, the green and gold’s tri-series with Fiji and Japan will announce their comeback to the code’s biggest arena.
Taking on the Fijiana at Suncorp Stadium this Friday night prior to the Queensland Reds’ clash with the Highlanders presents an exposure opportunity for the Wallaroos not seen since before Covid-19. That contest will be followed by their May 10 battle with Japan on the Gold Coast at Bond University.
While Cramer admitted is had been a challenging time for women’s rugby, the addition of the Fiji Drua to the Super W competition had changed the landscape of their preparations.
Now all eyes were on using the forthcoming matches to announce the Wallaroos as World Cup contenders.
“(It’s been) hard, because the intensity is totally different. For me personally having Fiji is our Super W comp, just for their ferocious face, it took me back to playing a Test match,” she said.
“The intensity and the speed of the game, it’s like being thrown into a dishawasher, you’re everywhere and it’s just frantic.
“That was really good preparation for us, we’ve been working a lot playing at a high pace because it is a step up. Us as a group, we’ve all obviously got goals to go to the World Cup together, but we're focusing on this Test match.
“There’s obviously a future bigger scope, so it’s going to be a big year.”
Cramer was joined at the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre by teammate Mahlia Murphy to unveil the First Nations jersey the Wallaroos will play in this series. The pair, both proud Indigenous athletes, marvelled in the design of the strip, depicting the story of three generations of women uniting through rugby.
Murphy, who has also represented Australia in rugby league and featured for St. George-Illawarra in the NRLW, the chance to don the Indigenous jumper came with it an extra source of motivation to perform come Friday night.
“It’s very exciting being able to represent First Nations people on this stage is awesome,” Murphy said.
“It represents not just the past of our rugby journey but our ongoing journey and the strength of our women’s team.
“I’m very proud to represent our culture; is so connected to this land and being able to represent your country and First Nations people is something I’m very proud of.
“It’s going to be one of the biggest games this year, so come down and support the girls. Come see what the women can do.”