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Kiwi Ferns insist gap closing with Australia despite World Cup loss
Murray Wenzel, AAP •  November 16th, 2026 8:58 am
NZ are disappointed but confident brighter days are not far away at Test level against Australia | Photo: Darren England/AAP
New Zealand captain Georgia Hale is adamant her side is better than what they showed in the World Cup final, but also that the gap is quickly closing in women's rugby league.
Four years after a side made up of New Zealand club players lost 54-4 to the Jillaroos in the England Cup decider, the Kiwi Ferns were humbled 34-10 in Brisbane on Sunday.
The hosts rattled in six first-half tries before Hale's women, who scored the only four-pointer of the second half, were able to fire a shot.
Shannon Mato scored one of two New Zealand tries at Suncorp Stadium | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
That left the captain frustrated, but optimistic of what was to come.
"We were still picking players from our local domestic comp in Auckland, and now we're spread across the NRLW and have a pathway out of NZ, with the Warriors returning (to the NRLW)," Hale said.
"That team we had out there has enough ammo, threat, physically and fitness to be better than what we put out there today.
"So much has changed in four years but … pressure came today and we missed that start."
It was a fourth-straight World Cup for the Jillaroos, who, after 20 years of defeats, have almost squared the head-to-head record with the Ferns (17-16) thanks to a decade of dominance.
NZ believe they are closing the gap on Australia, despite suffering a big defeat in the decider | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The Warriors were an NRLW foundation club, but were forced to disband during COVID-19 and only returned to the competition last year.
Test coach Ricky Henry said there was no fear the gap was widening.
"More are playing NRLW, professionals are making the switch from rugby," he said.
"We expected it to be better, and it can get better and better every year.
"Hopefully we can just figure out the way to beat them."
