England Women have three standout half-back options for the Rugby League World Cup, with Jenna Foubister, Izzy Rowe and Georgia Roche all competing for a place in the side. Head coach Stuart Barrow has named Rowe and Roche as the starting halves for the opening game against Wales on October 17.
Two Wigan stars make up one option, with Woman of Steel Jenna Foubister joined by her best friend and Warriors half-back partner Izzy Rowe. The third contender is NRLW star and former Woman of Steel Georgia Roche, who has been impressing on the other side of the world.
Barrow welcomes the selection headache as he prepares his side for three pool games, with a place in the semi-finals at stake. England face Wales first, followed by Australia and Samoa in what promises to be a tough pool-stage run.
In the opener, Barrow has chosen to place the reigning Woman of Steel on the bench and start Rowe and Roche in the halves. He believes the “telepathic” partnership between Foubister and Rowe could prove integral at some point in the tournament, but he cannot leave out one of the best players in the world.
Barrow reflects on a tough selection
“It is a massive moment for my career. It is the greatest honour to coach your country and to do it in a World Cup, I am really excited,” Barrow told Sky Sports.
“One of the toughest things I have ever experienced is picking this squad. We put a squad of 40 in on September 2, so to pick 23 from that was really tough. There was not a lot in it.
“Sleepless nights, difficult phone calls, but we are where we are now, and I’m sure we’ll move forward and represent the whole group.
“It was about balance and the way we want to play and the opposition we will play out there.
“It is exciting as a coach. It is challenging, but it is exciting.
“I think if you go back four years ago, the squad almost picked itself. The growth of the women’s game now shows that we have such an amazing talent pool coming through and a wider and deeper talent pool.
“We will deal with that, we have some ideas of what we will do and some different scenarios.”
Rowe chasing a childhood dream
Rowe knows she will battle for her shirt throughout the tournament as she lives out a childhood dream alongside Foubister. Regardless of who partners her in the halves, she knows she will be part of a monumental milestone in her career.
“It is a massive dream come true. It is something I have wanted for a long time,” Rowe told Sky Sports.
“Going with eight of my team-mates is going to make the tournament a lot easier for me.
“I feel very comfortable around the girls, we know how each other works and plays. But even the girls who don’t play at Wigan, we are really close.
“We have spoken about it together and being able to perform for your country together is a massive dream.
“We can’t wait and hopefully we get that opportunity.
“Obviously Georgia [Roche] has played in the NRLW, Australia’s elite women’s rugby league competition, and she is a massive player in the team. You cannot argue that she is one of the best half-backs that England has got.
“I have watched Georgia since being a young kid and Jenna is my best mate so whoever plays, I am going to be so proud.”