Jodie Cunningham: England desperate to test ‘against Australia in Las Vegas – is not a loss with pressure on them | Rugby league news
English captain Jodie Cunningham says the team “desperately tested themselves” against the World Champion in Australia in Las Vegas on Saturday, live on Sky Sportsadding that this is a “without a vine” situation for her side.
Over 10,000 rugby league fans traveled from the UK to Saturday’s event in Las Vegas Rugby League, containing Wigan Warriors VS Warrington Wolves Super League Clash, two matches from Australian NRL -AI International between England and Australia, all live on Sky Sports.
The next World League Rugby Cup is held in 2026 in Australia and Papui to New Guinea, and Cunningham is convinced that England will be able to reconcile it with the best.
“As soon as we got out of the plane and even in the plane, the amount of fans who were there, I feel like the whole plane was full of rugby league fans. That’s amazing. That’s so exciting.
“This [Vegas] She was a massive and probably different preparation than we had before, because we haven’t played Australia since 2017. They are world champions, they are world champions for a reason, and we desperately want to test against the best.
“We have a young group and the World Cup just around the corner, so this game has so much importance, taking Vegas from it.
“Girls know how important it is, as a coaching staff, they know how important it is, and for me, showing where we are in the English team, but also for a women’s game in England, this is a mark for us.
“This is a marker to do what we do, and we can mix it with the best and have the opportunity next year.
“So there are a lot of riding in this game and I think the girls feel it, but they also accept it.”
Despite the clear difference in resources, Cunningham says that England has what it takes to play Australia and beat them.
“The money he invested in a woman’s game there is worlds except we are in,” she said.
“Those girls [Australia] Having minimal contracts, the money inserted into this means that many of them are either full or semi -professional. This is not the case in England, there is still a large piece of women’s super league, I believe it doesn’t receive anything at all. Those who do this are minimal, at best are costs.
“And it’s not about money, it’s the time that girls give together, training at the highest level in the upper facilities.
“This is what we fight against. They have a lot more girls playing the game in general, so the talent pool that selects much bigger. All this aside, we know we can mix it with the best.
“After the last World Cup, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Georgia Roach, Fran Goldthorp, three of our players in England went out to play there and get contracts for NRL debut. For them as individuals, I wanted them to succeed, but I wanted them to succeed that they could match their best, but we could do it.
‘We have to stay composed in most of the surrounding environment ever’
Leading the side in a unique occasion that is a rugby league in Las Vegas, what emotions around Cunningham’s head will be?
“Trying to behave calmly. Look, only the three of us ever played against Australia – me and two others, and we are the oldest players. Now we have a lot of young detachments,” she said.
“My job is to be sure that we are calm and assembled in what is the most real environment ever for these girls. I have to show that I am composed and you know what I am? Ready. This is an opportunity I never thought I would have had.
“We really can’t lose. We go out, we give everything we have. All the pressure is to Australia, so it will just prepare.
“I like a little powerful pose before I go out to put together. Find myself for a moment. I’m not the biggest one.
“Standing next to Keza [Apps, Australia captain]She’s like a giant beside me, so I’m trying to get some extra inches. When they are in the tunnel, that’s for me. When I do a national anthem, it’s a powerful pose, it’s hands on my hips, it’s: ‘Come on, get ready to move’.
“Take off everything, on Saturday we have a real chance to go and do something special.”
Rugby league in Vegas – how to watch or flow
All actions from the event will be Live on Sky Sports on Saturday From 8.30pm. After the bumper buildup, Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves will start at 9:30 pm and Canberra Raiders VS New Zealand Warriors of midnight.
The Australian Jillaros against England will be held from 2am at 2am, and the festival has closed with Penrith Panthers VS Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks from 4.30 in the morning.
Rugbi Liga Las Vegas Festival 2025 – Full Schedule
- Betfred Super League – Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves (21:30 GMT)
- NRL – Canberra Raiders VS New Zealand Warriors (12:00)
- Test match – Australian Jillaroos vs English Women (2:00)
- NRL – Penrith Panthers Vs Cronulla -sutherland Sharks (4.30 hours)
Sky Sports will again show every game of Super League Live this season – including two games in each round exclusively live, with the remaining four matches each week shown on Sky Sports+. Streak with now.
