THE Jillaroos have received top billing alongside the Kangaroos and Kiwis for the one-off Test this May.

No longer referred to as a ‘curtain raiser’ the women’s Test will feature on the Friday, May 6 fixture list as a double header, putting them on equal footing with men’s match to be played at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium.

“Our national women’s team deserve the same billing as the national men’s team,” an NRL spokesperson said.

“Anyone who has seen the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns play will know that they produce a great brand of football with real crowd appeal. So it is recognition of the quality and appeal of the women’s game.”

media_camera Jillaroos Alanna Ferguson and Ruan Sims will both go into camp next week in Newcastle.

In an extra boost, host broadcaster Channel 9 will show the match on the network after the men’s fixture.

For Jillaroos player Ruan Sims, the change in language speaks volumes of how the women’s national side is now valued.

“It’s pretty neat, it’s pretty cool. It would be the highest form of flattery, because it’s saying that they appreciate the skill level that we bring to it,” Sims said.

“It is [a double header]. It’s two international teams, Australia and New Zealand, playing against each other, the only difference is the first game is women and the second game is men, but it is the international stage and every player who is taking that field are all playing for the same pride and same passion.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has development of the women’s game as part of his charter and he already has plans to build the Jillaroos’ success.

“We want to see a successful Jillaroos and we want to help them in any way,” Meninga said.

“We’ve got a fulltime sports science guy coming into our small unit at the moment and he’s going to work closely with the girls around their training and recovery, to give them a bit more professional advice around their preparation.

“I think that’s an important part around trying to make them more successful too.”

media_camera The Jillaroos won last year’s Test at Suncorp Stadium. Pic: Adam Head

Their success to date has reaped benefits. Last year a delayed broadcast of the women’s Test attracted more than 140,000 viewers on free-to-air and the Jillaroos now have a front-of-shirt sponsor in Harvey Norman and more recently Jetstar as a sleeve sponsor.

Now, the double header billing brings rugby league in line with a number of other sports striving for parity.

Big Bash club Sydney Sixers has pursued a policy of ‘one club, two teams’ since the WBBL was introduced last season, including referring to men’s and women’s games played on the same day as double headers.

“Our WBBL fixtures are just as important as our BBL fixtures and therefore we refer to them as double headers, two matches in the same day,” Sixers marketing manager Jodie Hawkins said.

“We believe this places both games on equal billing on the schedule, not calling out one as more important than the other.”

media_camera The Sydney Sixers had double headers during BBL and WBBL seasons just passed. Pic: Phil Hillyard

It’s all part of positive developments for women’s sport in Australia in 2016.

Cricket Australia recently increased the base salary for the best female players in the country, with some of the top players able to earn six-firgure salaries from next year, the Australian Rugby Union making moves to host the men’s and women’s sevens tournament as a joint event in Sydney in 2017 and the introduction of the women’s AFL league next season.

The Jillaroos’ extended squad goes into camp Friday next week where a final 17 swill be selected.

Extended squad: Kezie Apps, Heather Ballinger, Latoya Billy, Annette Brander, Brittany Breayley, Sam Bremner, Karina Brown, Chelsea Baker, Elizabeth Cook-Black, Allana Ferguson, Vanessa Foliaki, Steph Hancock, Kody House, Casey Karklis, Renae Kunst, Corban McGregor, Kaitlyn Morgan, Shanice Parker, Kelsey Parkin, Ruan Sims, Simone Smith, Maddie Studdon, Tallisha Harden, Simaima Taufa, Emma Young.