Davis elevated to Jillaroos bench

Sydney Roosters rake and NSW Women’s Origin forward Keeley Davis has been elevated into the Jillaroos XVII for Sunday’s Pacific Championships final against the Kiwi Ferns.

Australian coach Brad Donald has named Davis at No.14 using her utility value to either relieve starting hooker and fellow NSW teammate Olivia Higgins, or play in the back row.

It will be her fifth Test cap and her first since the 2023 Pacific Championships.

Davis - pictured above at training today with Roosters and NSW teammate Isabelle Kelly - came into the 2024 squad a fortnight ago for the match against New Zealand in Christchurch on 27 October as cover for Quincy Dodd (quad strain). Dodd has been named on the extended bench this weekend.

Higgins has been nursing a wrist injury since the 14-0 win in Christchurch but has been declared fit for Sunday’s game at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium.

Another True Blue in Newcastle Knights playmaker Jesse Southwell has been called into the Jillaroos camp as cover for halves Ali Brigginshaw and Tarryn Aiken.

Gold Coast hooker-half Lauren Brown is still struggling with a hamstring strain picked up in the Prime Minister’s XIII game against Papua New Guinea on 13 October.

Southwell played both No.6 and No.7 in two games for NSW in the 2023 Origin series.