‘My dream jersey’: Togatuki content picking Jillaroos

November 10

Sarah Togatuki is content with choosing to represent Australia over a surging Samoa as she eyes selection for the Jillaroos’ Las Vegas trip.

The Wests Tigers forward played all three games of Australia’s triumphant Pacific Cup campaign, which culminated in a 24-4 defeat of New Zealand in Sunday’s final at CommBank Stadium.

Born in Sydney to Samoan parents, Togatuki could just as easily have represented Samoa at the Pacific Championships as the nation mounted an ultimately successful push for World Cup qualification.

Fetu Samoa were the big improvers of the Pacific Championships as Evania Pelite, Jasmine Fogavini and Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala all opted to represent their Pacific roots after previously turning out for tier-one nations.

Sunday’s 34-12 defeat of Papua New Guinea earned Samoa promotion to the Pacific Cup for 2025, and confirmed the team was on the rise under retired NRL star Jamie Soward.

Togatuki turned out for Samoa in one game against the Kiwi Ferns in 2019 and found it difficult to choose between doing the same again in 2024, or targeting a Jillaroos debut.

Despite the hype around Samoa’s growth, and recent predictions that more players would begin representing their Pacific roots, Togatuki could not pass up the chance to play for Australia.

“This jersey for the Jillas has been sitting there waiting for me. I was just so unlucky (to miss out) last year with injury,” she told AAP.

“Had I ticked over that goal of just putting on that green and gold, I possibly would have played for Samoa this year, but I got the call-up and I couldn’t say no to my dream jersey.”

Togatuki was the first of her parents’ children born in Australia after their move from New Zealand, and said the family supported her decision to play for the Jillaroos rather than Samoa.

“I felt like I’ve made their dreams come true, that their sacrifice to go from Samoa to New Zealand to coming here, it’s been all worth it,” she said.

“It’s not easy (to choose), but when you see your family at the end of the day and their smiles, you just know you’ve made the right decision.

“But both cultures run through me so deep. Whether I got the opportunity for Samoa or Australia, I’d still be proud and hopefully make my family proud putting on whatever jersey.”

For now, Togatuki is committed to remaining a Jillaroos as she eyes the side’s next match – to be played against England in Las Vegas in March.

The two old rivals will face off for the first time since 2017 as part of the NRL’s annual foray into the American market, which will feature four games for its second edition.

“Moving forward I’d love to tick off the box of being in Vegas,” Togatuki said.

“It’s every girl’s dream to play in America, so I definitely wouldn’t turn that opportunity down if it did come.”

A defeat of England would confirm the Jillaroos’ status as the best international team in women’s rugby league after two convincing defeats of New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.

But co-captain Ali Brigginshaw said her side would not become preoccupied with its opposition.

“We don’t look at who we’re playing,” she said.

“I’ve played England a couple of times, so I’ll try and tell the girls what that’s like so I know I’ll get them up when it’s time to go to Vegas, but we’re just focusing on what we can do.”

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