Sharks NRLW front rower Ellie Johnston will make her Jillaroos debut after being named in the Australian team to play Fetu Samoa this weekend.
Johnston was one of three debutants, along with Broncos-bound halfback Jesse Southwell and Roosters prop Rima Butler, selected by Harvey Norman Australian Jillaroos Coach Jess Skinner for the Pacific Championships clash which kicks off at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane at 1pm on Sunday.
Named in the NRLW team of the year, Johnston also played her first game for the NSW Sky Blues in 2025 in a breakout season for the Sharks prop.
Joining Johnston in the Jillaroos side is her club captain Tiana Penitani Gray, who has been selected in the centres, and hooker Quincy Dodd named on Australia’s interchange bench.
The Jillaroos side for their first appearance in the 2025 Pacific Championships will be skippered by co-Captains Ali Brigginshaw and Kezie Apps, with the 21-player squad featuring 10 players who took the field in the Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Final between the Broncos and Roosters earlier this month.
Jillaroos Coach Jess Skinner congratulated the three players named to make their Test debut.
“Jesse, Rima and Ellie were three of the standout performers across the NRLW season and have thoroughly earned their selection for this opening Pacific Championships game against a high-quality Fetu Samoa side,” Skinner said.
“It is a great opportunity for these girls to make their mark in the green and gold jersey and the energy and enthusiasm that they’ve brought into camp has been outstanding.
“As a team we’ll need to bring that energy into the game on Sunday against a hungry and rising Samoan team that pushed the Kiwi Ferns to the limit and will back themselves to do the same against us this weekend.”
The Jillaroos squad is as follows:
1. Tamika Upton
2. Julia Robinson
3. Isabelle Kelly
4. Tiana Penitani Gray
5. Jessica Sergis
6. Ali Brigginshaw (c)
7. Jesse Southwell
8. Rima Butler
9. Keeley Davis
10. Jessika Elliston
11. Kezie Apps (c)
12. Yasmin Clydsdale
13. Olivia Kernick
14. Quincy Dodd
15. Keilee Joseph
16. Ellie Johnston
17. Jakiya Whitfeld
18. Sarah Togatuki
19. Abbi Church
20. Jocelyn Kelleher
21. Makenzie Weale
