‘I was a little taken aback’: Former coach says Jesse Southwell should have been in the Jillaroos squad

Former Knights NRLW coach Ron Griffiths says the Jillaroos missed a trick by not picking young gun Jesse Southwell in the extended squad for the Pacific Championships where Australia lost to New Zealand for the first time in seven years.

Southwell, 18, was overlooked for last month’s Tests despite leading Newcastle to back-to-back NRLW premierships in her first two seasons.

Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said Southwell was a “player of the future” who would have a long international career, but he wants her to continue to develop with the Knights and for NSW before he throws her in the deep end on the biggest stage.

Donald also has the luxury of picking Dally M Halfback of the Year Ali Brigginshaw, who has done it all for the Broncos, Maroons and Jillaroos, with the veteran playmaker getting the nod for both games against the Kiwi Ferns.

But it won’t be long until Southwell gets her crack for Australia after another dominant season with Newcastle, with the teen star revealing after the NRLW decider that she didn’t think she was going to be picked this year.

“I doubt I’ll see my name in there,” Southwell said before the Pacific Championships squad was announced.

“I think there are a lot of good halfbacks, so I doubt I’ll be there.

“It’s up to Brad and the selection committee but it isn’t a driving force for me at the moment.

“I just love playing alongside my Newcastle girls at the moment and there are so many underrated girls in our side that deserve a shot not only for the Jillaroos but for Origin and things like that.

“Whatever happens, happens, so all the best to the Jillaroos and whoever gets picked.”

Australia remains the team to beat despite losing to New Zealand for the first time since 2016 in Melbourne last week, but the Kiwi Ferns showed that you have to make changes if you want to stay competitive on the world stage.

Mass changes helped the Kiwi Ferns avenge their 50-point World Cup loss from last year, and an expanding international schedule could mean the Jillaroos tinker with their squad as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

It’s why Griffiths was surprised to see Southwell overlooked for a spot in the extended squad where she could have learnt from Brigginshaw and the other experienced heads who have dominated the women’s game for years.

“I thought it was an opportunity to get her in the Australian system,” said Griffiths, who has left the NRLW and is now Newcastle’s NSW Cup coach.

“If she didn’t play, well so be it, but at least she would been in there which would have allowed her to get amongst it.

“She could have started learning what it takes to play at that level to represent her country, so I was a little taken aback that she wasn’t selected.”