The Jillaroos Journey: 'Go and win the World Cup'

The tournament marked the beginning of a significant transformation in women's rugby league, setting it on a trajectory of remarkable growth.

Julie Ariel (formerly Young) witnessed the evolution of women's rugby league firsthand.

The ex-Jillaroo made her Test debut as an amateur in 2011.

By 2013, the NRL began supporting the team's expenses during the World Cup in England for the very first time.

Just a year later, Australian women players received compensation for representing their country, marking a pivotal moment in Wollongong when they faced off against New Zealand.

This development was both overdue and a sign of rapid progress in women's rugby.

After demonstrating her fitness, Ariel earned a spot in the Jillaroos squad, joining her sister Emma Young and her sister-in-law Rebecca.