England vs Australia is at all times a heated rivalry, however Hollie-Mae Dodd is prepared for it to succeed in one other degree when the 2 sides conflict in Las Vegas, reside on Sky Sports activities.
Dodd is one in every of England ladies’s star names that heads out to Sin Metropolis to participate in a groundbreaking weekend of rugby league motion at Allegiant Stadium, with two NRL contests, Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves in Tremendous League, and the worldwide conflict between the 2 ladies’s outfits (Sunday March 2, 2am UK time).
Whereas England and Australia going through off is a rarity, Dodd is in a singular place amongst the England squad because of her competing full-time within the WNRL for Canberra Raiders since 2023 and taking part in members of the world no 1 Jillaroos frequently.
England have edged ever nearer to competing with the Southern hemisphere sides, courting again to the semi-final look towards New Zealand on the Rugby League World Cup in 2022, with Dodd seeing Vegas as the proper check for the highest stars within the Northern Hemisphere to see the place they at the moment stand.
“I’ve played against some of the girls that are currently playing for Australia, obviously, last year and the year before that,” Dodd informed Sky Sports activities.
“So I am going to have that little perception of information of how the gamers carry out over there. However I do know the ladies over right here, they have been coaching exhausting. And clearly, they’re at the moment within the pre-season for the Tremendous League.
“They’re coaching exhausting at their golf equipment as properly. All of us simply come along with our little data that we have from our golf equipment and, you recognize, mix that.
“Some of the girls in this squad haven’t actually played against Australia. I’ve never played against them. And I know some of the Australians haven’t actually played against England.
“So, it will likely be a extremely good check for ourselves and to see the place we’re at. It was disappointing to dropping that match towards New Zealand (within the World Cup), as a result of I believed it was such a very good contest.
“To go over to America and play against Australia will be a really good experience to see where we are at.”
Viva the expansion of girls’s rugby league
Whereas England will probably be going into the competition trying to trigger an upset and play their finest rugby, it isn’t misplaced on Dodd what a big and seminal second it will likely be for the game. Eyes on the ladies’s match are anticipated to be huge, with a bumper crowd packing out the Allegiant stadium for an action-packed day of rugby league.
“Oh, it’s huge,” Dodd added. “We can’t have ever performed in entrance of a crowd like that earlier than.
“Obviously, there’s a few games on beforehand, so hopefully they stay to watch the women’s game as well. It will be so good for the development of the game over there and over here, to be honest.
“You’ve got the boys’s video games earlier than and after, so that permits individuals to remain round to observe the ladies’s recreation. A few of us will not have ever performed in entrance of that many individuals earlier than, in order that’ll be actually thrilling.
“We have been looking forward to it for quite a while now and it allows us to see where we’re at and get that preparation in place. And I think, obviously, playing against Australia is such a big step up for us.
“The final recreation we performed was towards Wales and we have to check ourselves a bit extra. I feel taking part in in entrance of such an enormous crowd and hopefully performing properly over there’ll check us on the place we’re at.
“The girls are very committed and they do it because they love the sport. So, I think, obviously, the passion they’ve got for the sport allows us to kick on and try and compete with them.”
“Obviously, we know how big the occasion is at the minute but I think we’re just trying to focus on ourselves.
“As quickly as the ladies head over there and see how huge the stadium is and listen to the group and issues like that, I feel there will be just a few nerves within the air, yeah, undoubtedly.”
2025 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
March 1: Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves in Las Vegas
April 17-19: Round 8 – Rivals Round
May 3-4: Magic Round (St James’ Park, Newcastle)
July 24: August 31 – Round 20 – split round across two weekends
September 4-7: Round 25 – Rivals Round fixtures reversed
September 18-21: Round 27 – last round of regular season (dates and times tbc)
September 26-27: Elimination Play-Offs
October 3-4: Semi-Finals
Saturday October 11: Grand Final (Old Trafford)
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining four matches each week shown on Sky Sports activities+. Not acquired Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
