3 May 2015

Jillaroos too good for Black Ferns

7:15 pm on 3 May 2015

A hat-trick on debut by centre Mahalia Murphy helped the Jillaroos upset the Kiwi Ferns 22-14 in their postponed women's rugby league Test in Brisbane.

Australia's Jenny Sue Hoepper

Australia's Jenny Sue Hoepper Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The hosts led 10-4 at halftime after tries to Jenny-Sue Hoepper and Murphy.

The Kiwi Ferns levelled the scores after reserve Maitua Feterika ran off captain Laura Mariu to crash over near the posts in the 52nd minute.

But Murphy soon found another gear, latching onto a Hoepper pass to score in the 64th minute before a dazzling 65 metre effort eight minutes from time.

The Kiwi Ferns back-rower Teuila Fotu-Moala pulled off some brutal hits, but the Jillaroos pivot Hoepper showed touches of class to prove the hosts weren't rattled.

The Kiwi Ferns hooker Sharnita Woodman scored a consolation try on fulltime.

The only down-side for the Jillaroos was losing fullback Samantha Hammond at halftime with a suspected broken leg.

The Jillaroos are world champions after ending New Zealand's string of three straight World Cup wins at the 2013 tournament.

However, they were underdogs for the match after losing the last Test played between the

two nations in 2014 and their Auckland Nines series 2-1 this year.