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FIFA World Cup 2026 poster‘It was just a longing for the jersey’: Kennedy Cherrington pledges Kiwi Ferns allegiance
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • June 3rd, 2026 12:09 pm
Kennedy Cherrington | Photo: Photosport
Kennedy Cherrington has pledged her allegiance to New Zealand for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup following recent eligibility changes.
The 27-year-old, who was born in Sydney to proud Māori parents, told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy she has been sitting on the decision for the past two years, with representing the Māori All Stars proving to be the final piece of the puzzle.
But the journey began when she faced the Kiwi Ferns while representing Australia in a Jillaroos jersey.
"In 2022, when I first was challenged with the haka against the Kiwi Ferns, it honestly asked questions of myself," Cherrington explained.
"I think I faced them like four times. It just kept questioning my heart and I was just like, 'What is this feeling?' It was just a longing for the jersey."
The Parramatta Eels and NSW Blues forward, who also represented the Jillaroos at the 2022 World Cup, said she is proud of her strong family ties on both sides of the Tasman and is excited about what lies ahead.
Kennedy Cherrington | Photo: Photosport
"I've been able to walk both worlds in Pākehā and Māori, so to have that pull to both sides is so confusing for someone who's on their cultural journey."
A trip to her parents' hometown of Moerewa in Northland with sister Ruben further strengthened her connection to New Zealand after the pair organised a last-minute training session and were stunned by the turnout.
"I think 250 kids rocked up and we were like, 'Whoa'. It was pretty buzzy for us.
"Being brought up in Australia, we didn't realise the impact that we had on these young babies, tamariki, coming through.
"They did their haka to us and just really got around us. It basically felt like a big hug.
"From that moment I was just like, 'Holy, there is a different world over here that we never really got to experience culturally.' It was from that moment that I was like, 'Oh, I need to come home.'"
Fresh from helping NSW complete a State of Origin clean sweep, Cherrington knows there is still work to do before she pulls on a Kiwi Ferns jersey.
Kennedy Cherrington leads the NSW celebrations after their Women's State of Origin win in Brisbane | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
"I've still got to put my foot down and work hard for the jersey," she said.
Cherrington said she is "all in" on the decision and hopes others with New Zealand heritage will follow suit as for her, the “calling has been very loud."
The revised eligibility criteria now allows State of Origin players to represent countries outside Australia, with New Zealand eligibility requiring the player, a parent or a grandparent to have been born in the country.
Cherrington plus Maroons prop Shannon Mato are the first former Jillaroos stars to switch their allegiance to the Kiwi Ferns under the new eligibility rules, with more players expected to follow ahead of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Listen to the full interview below:
