The Sam Bremner-Emma Tonegato fullback rivalry has been an interesting side light to the Jillaroos progression to the Rugby League World Cup Final.
Both women have played in the No.1 spot – and shared the field twice with both coming off the interchange bench in two of the four lead-up matches.
For the World Cup Final against New Zealand at Old Trafford, the pair have again been named in coach Brad Donald’s 17 – Bremner at fullback and Tonegato off the bench.
For the Ampol Women’s State of Origin, both players trained at fullback with the Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues with Tonegato winning the No.1 jersey and Bremner at No.18.
“The will to learn off the players around me has been a focus for me,” Bremner told nswrl.com.au, as she continues her comeback to the game after having two children.
“And that’s why I’ve loved having Emma in camp with me. We play completely different styles but we’ve had a great rivalry.
“We started this journey at the Helensburgh Tigers, did our first World Cup together in 2013, and now we’re back here together.
“We most definitely have an appreciation for each other. We can learn off each other and I absolutely love that.
“I’ll be on the field with her in the Final just like we were in 2013.”
After that Cup win by the Jillaroos, Tonegato moved to Rugby Union playing in the gold-medal winning Australian Sevens team at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Bremner left the game in 2018 to start a family.
But in a huge 2022 for the women’s game – two NRLW seasons, club competitions, an Origin win and a World Cup tour – Bremner and Tonegato have been fierce but friendly competitors.
“This whole campaign and selection process the coach has wanted everyone to be versatile so that we could get to the final with a really healthy team – it’s been a long year,” Bremner said.
“That’s never been done before because my previous two World Cups people have had to back up again and again, and come into the final a bit bruised,” she said.
“So the versatility in our team has been amazing with virtually everyone playing two or three positions.”
