The last time the Jillaroos took on England, a 90-4 thrashing in Las Vegas ensued as the Australians flexed their muscles to a global audience.
But just over 18 months on, Australia are not taking their Rugby League World Cup favouritism for granted and are expecting a radically different challenge from a new-look England.
The Jillaroos will look to continue their winning start to their home World Cup when they take on England at HBF Park on Saturday.
However, while it is easy to cast the mind back to Australia’s thumping win when the pair last met, the Jillaroos are on high alert after the English downed Wales 70-6 in their opening match.
Julia Robinson grabbed a hat-trick on that fateful day in Las Vegas, but the centre said the team were taking nothing out of their previous meeting.
“They’ve got a different team, they’ve got a few new players in the team, so they’re definitely a lot stronger,” she said.
“The performance they had last week was really impressive, so they’re definitely going to be a lot stronger than Vegas.
“We know they’re going to come out strong, from the game last year in Vegas after they’ve come over here to prove they do belong in the World Cup as well.”
Just seven players (Anna Davies, Georgia Roche, Liv Wood, Keara Bennett, Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield and Hollie-Mae Dodd) from the England side who were thrashed in Las Vegas will take the field in Perth.
And Australia themselves will look a little different with 10 returning players (Robinson, Tamika Upton, Isabelle Kelly, Tarryn Aiken, Olivia Higgins, Simaima Taufa, Tiana Penitani Gray, Olivia Kernick, Quincy Dodd and Sarah Togatuki).
English NRL stars Jasmin Strange and Fran Goldthorp did not play in the previous encounter and their game-breaking talent looms as a significant danger for Australia.
Jillaroos debutant Makenzie Weale said her side had taken note of England’s impressive first-up win, which saw them run in 13 tries as half-back Isabel Rowe added 10 successful kicks from the tee and catch the eye with their speed off the line.
“Speaking to the girls, they’re expecting a bit more of a harder turnaround and they’re coming off a really good win, they’re going to try and back it up,” Weale said.
“We’ll take our medicine, let them come to us, and just play our footy.
“If they’re going to come out at us, we can go around them and working around what they’re presenting to us, which should be a good challenge.
“Not to be complacent is our biggest thing, because complacency is what can kill you.
“We know that’s what’s expected of us, but to keep it like that, we’ve got to keep improving.”
Weale said she was embracing her chance to debut alongside former Australian sevens representative Sariah Paki.
“People talk about Origin being the pinnacle, but it’s a different thing being able to represent your country,” she said.
“For my family, all my team, it’s exciting to be able to do it and at a World Cup’s pretty cool.”
Robinson said Weale and Paki had barely looked at out place in camp and she was excited to see them win their maiden caps.
“They know what they’re doing. We’ve got some incredible debutants coming through and they’re just going to own it,” she said.
“It feels like they’ve been here for years, so they’ll do the jersey proud.”
At the other end of the scale, Robinson will play her 15th Test for Australia since debuting in 2018 and given the relative lack of women’s international matches outside of major tournaments, the milestone felt like a meaningful one.
“To be able to play one game in the Jillaroos jersey is a huge honour but be able to do 15 with this team is incredible, and we’re very honoured,” Robinson said.
“We have so many incredible athletes in our team, and to be able to play with them and with the staff that we have at this World Cup, we’re definitely going to be the pinnacle of the game.”