World Cup hero wants more of the same

Nov 27 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

ENGLAND international hat- trick hero Joanne Watmore has returned home from the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2008 in Australia with her head held high.

The talented 22-year-old centre from Widnes but now living in Runcorn is determined to go a couple of steps further by winning the competition in 2013.

This follows a heart-wrenching 16-4 semi-final defeat by the eventual winners New Zealand.

Jo, who recorded her three-try haul against Russia in the group stages, said: “It was my first major tournament and we were playing against some of the best players in the world.

“The likes of the Kiwis, who won it, have been together for much longer as a team than us and it was a third World Cup for some of their players.

“Some of the New Zealand players even told us that the semi-final against us was the hardest game that they’ve ever had at this level.

“But now we have the experience of playing against top teams, we want to win it in five years’ time, as we will be much more organised.”

Jo and her team-mates conquered Russia, France and the Pacific Islands en route to the last four.

Watmore now hopes that the campaign will have gone some way to changing attitudes surrounding the standard of the English women’s game.

“There was a lot of coverage in the local papers suggesting that England would be pushovers and I think some of the girls may have become too involved in personal battles and trying to prove a point.

“But at the same time, I think we’ve made everyone realise that the standard of women’s rugby in England has gone up considerably.

“Everyone was gutted to lose to New Zealand which shows how far the sport has come.

“We’re on a high right now as it’s the best ever time to be involved with women’s rugby league.”

She added: “Hopefully now we will start to see the introduction of regular fixtures against other top international sides.

“It’s great to hear that a potential women’s Tri-Nations is currently being considered too.”

Accompanying Watmore on the flight home was Anita Naughton from Widnes who was a member of England’s backroom staff in Australia.