Donald has named a bumper squad that also includes former Orange Hawks gun Vanessa Foliaki, and Parkes product Talesha Quinn.

Foliaki now plays rugby league with the Easts Tigers in Queensland while Quinn is currently playing with Cronulla-Caringbah, in NSW.

Foliaki and Quinn are two of the squad’s 16 World Cup debutants, while five players in Donald’s squad have captained Australia this year in Sam Bremner, Karina Brown, Steph Hancock, Renae Kunst and Ruan Sims.

Donald said every Jillaroos team member this year had contributed to elevating the team to its highest professional point and was confident in the abilities of the squad selected for the World Cup.

“There is no doubt that as an extended team, we are closer than we have ever been and committed to our goal of retaining the World Cup,” Donald said.

“It seems a long time since we first sat down as a group and discussed what we wanted to achieve in 2017.

“Pleasingly, we have ticked off several objectives, but retaining the World Cup remains at the top of the list.

“With the tournament being staged in our home country, we will be drawing on local support and our intention is to complete the year with a World Cup win.”

The women’s World Cup begins on November 19.