Harvey Norman Jillaroos forward Millie Elliott is confident the return of the Warriors to the NRLW competition will help make rugby league the No.1 women's sport in New Zealand.
The Australian side has just returned from a week in Christchurch where they got a first-hand glimpse of how much support there is for women's rugby league across the Tasman.
Players were recognised on the streets, locals watched the team train and thousands of fans packed into the stands at Apollo Projects Stadium for Sunday's Pacific Championships double-header.
The support for the Kiwi Ferns was vocal and passionate, with the Jillaroos overcoming a boisterous crowd to secure a 14-0 victory.
While the New Zealand side was stacked with NRLW stars, the players have had to move to Australia to chase their dreams.
Biddle the enforcer
That will change next season with the Warriors returning to the competition after a four-year hiatus. Multiple Kiwi Ferns have already signed for next season, with the team eager to produce more home-grown talent.
Elliott expects the benefits of the club's presence in the NRLW will flow through to all levels of the game.
"They've had to move all around to be able to play," Elliott told pan66.com. "They've found their home away from home but it's more accessible for them to play in New Zealand and we'll see girls from other sports [switch across] as well.
"They've got Ronald Griffiths coaching them. He coached me at the Knights and he's such a great leader. He's a great coach but he's also a great person and he really gets the best out of people.
"He and his family will do a great job in New Zealand and the Warriors are very lucky to have him."
Elliott named Player of the Match
Elliott is relishing her first international campaign since 2019, claiming player of the match in Sunday's victory.
The prop has developed significantly as a player over the past five years, winning premierships with the Knights and Roosters, to go with her two titles with Brisbane, and marrying NRL star Adam Elliott.
The Knights back-rower was in the stands for Australia's first two matches of the Pacific Championships and will again be present for the final at Parramatta.
Millie credits Adam for helping her view the game from a different perspective and said the results have been on display on the field.
"He's enjoying being a HAB (husband and boyfriend) in his off-season," Elliott said. "I appreciate him and his support means more than he'll ever know, I'm so lucky to have him.
"There's a lot of footy in the household but he's allowed me to have a better perspective on it and see things from a different point of view. He's helped show me how to be all in but also switch off and helped with little points of my game.
"I love footy, I love going to his games and him coming to mine. Footy is our lives but I love it."
Match: PNG Orchids v Kiwi Ferns
Week 3 -
home Team
PNG Orchids
3rd Position
away Team
Kiwi Ferns
2nd Position
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
While Elliott is enjoying a week in New Zealand with Adam, she's eager to return to Australia and finish her season off on a high.
The Jillaroos will use the next few days to refresh and reset before they assemble in camp in the Blue Mountains this weekend.
New Zealand can book their place in the decider with a victory over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Sunday.
Australia defeated the Kiwi Ferns in the opening game of last year's Pacific Championships before they fell to their rivals two weeks later. It's a situation they're determined to avoid.
All Tries – Kiwi Ferns v Jillaroos
A win at CommBank Stadium would cap a remarkable year for Elliott after she claimed her fourth NRLW title and she's relishing the chance to return to the international arena.
"With where the game is at the moment, it's such a cool team to be a part of," she said. "I feel like my own game has developed and I've developed as a player since I last played here five years ago. It's been great to be able to put those performances together with this team.
"The NRLW has come such a long way, it's a platform for players. All of the New Zealand girls play in the NRLW so you're going to have really high standard of games because we're playing consistent footy at a high level.
"We've still got patches we can be a lot better in, which is exciting. Our defence is our main focus but I feel like we can really sharpen our attack too, which will make us a bit more dangerous."
