KIERSTEN DUKE: Jess Skinner’s journey to Jillaroos coach a long and hard one

It was just this time last year when trailblazer Jess Skinner made history as the first female head coach of the Indigenous Women’s All Stars team.

She vowed it wouldn’t be her last senior coaching role and since then her career has been on an upwards trajectory as she was named interim coach of the Jillaroos following Brad Donald’s departure.

Donald guided Australia to back-to-back World Cup victories in both 2017 and 2022.

He was part of the Jillaroos seven-year unbeaten run before a sole loss to New Zealand in 2023.

Playing a significant role in the Australian women’s rugby league programme, Skinner has big shoes to fill but I couldn’t think of a better person for the job and quite frankly, I can’t wait to see her take the bull by the horns when the Jillaroos take on England during the Las Vegas NRL season opening extravaganza next month.

Deeply involved in the game with various coaching roles Skinner has an impressive resume, including taking charge of the Prime Minister’s XIII and working in the NRLW with the Knights.

Behind the scenes she’s worked hard with the pathway programmes under the Jillaroos and NRL banner. There’s no one better equipped and prepared for the role as head coach.

A proud Aboriginal/Maori woman, Skinner grew up in a rural NSW community with six brothers, so you probably don’t need me to tell you that rugby league was always priority on weekends.

You could go as far as saying it was engrained in her day-to-day life. Sadly, the region struggled with a number of anti-social problems.

Drugs, alcohol and domestic violence were most prominent and devastatingly only got worse during the rugby league season.

A way of combating these problems came in the form of getting women involved in league. Skinner raised her hand to help do this and hasn’t looked back since.

Coaching rugby league hasn’t come without its hurdles. Following the passing of her beloved partner in 2017, Skinner has had to navigate becoming a single mother through the heartache and loss.

A tough enough task in itself, let alone when you’re travelling hundreds of kilometres across the country to support the growth of others.

Selfless is one of the first words that springs to mind when I think of Jess Skinner.

Growing up, Skinner never had aspirations to become a coach at a professional level. She had no female coaching role models to look up to and in her words “you can’t be what you can’t see”.

So that’s what she’s trying to change for the younger generations. She wants them to see the opportunities for women in sport.

When you stand back as part of the coaching staff at McDonald Jones Stadium as the NRLW Knights run out to play and you see rows of young girls wearing jerseys and face paint, you know you’re on the right path.

The footy field is one place where we’re all equal. Regardless of your background or race, you can embrace the sport and give it your all. And Skinner is ready to give it her all with the backing of the Jillaroos squad.

Jillaroos hooker and Indigenous All Star Quincy Dodd has worked closely with Skinner for a number of years and has been open about how proud she is of her coach.

Unsurprisingly it’s not just the players who are keen to see Skinner continue to succeed.

NRLW Warriors coach Ron Griffiths has spoken in the past about how he’d like to see more indigenous representation at the top.

The premiership winning coach was linked to with the Australian job but is adamant they’ve already found the perfect person.

Skinner is leading by example and I can’t wait to see her thrive with the Jillaroos in Vegas.