Australia is the monster that turns World Cup dreams to nightmares

A decade ago, the women's Rugby League World Cup final marked a turning point for the sport. Australia's 23-16 victory over New Zealand in 2017 not only secured their first-ever World Cup final win on home soil but also signified the beginning of significant changes for women's rugby league. Since then, the Jillaroos have consistently dominated the competition, winning 15 of their 16 matches since the 2017 triumph.

They have not conceded more than two tries in a game since 2018 and have shown an impressive ability to outscore their opponents, with a cumulative scoreline of 312-12 in the last World Cup, including a dominant 54-4 win over New Zealand in the final. The Jillaroos' success is evident in the number of players from this year's NRLW Dally M Team of the Year who are part of the current squad.

With nine players from this year's team, they boast the best players, forwards, halfbacks, and centres in the world, making them the strongest women's rugby league team ever. While other teams have improved, including New Zealand and Samoa, the Jillaroos remain the benchmark for excellence, and their dominance is a growing pain for the sport, as other nations strive to catch up.