The resilience and camaraderie gained in a training session from hell that went for more than three hours has steeled Australia for their gruelling Women's Rugby League World Cup campaign.
On Wednesday night in York the Jillaroos take on the Cook Islands in what will be the first of five games in 17 days if they make it through to the final to defend their title.
Coach Brad Donald has named 10 debutants in the squad that will take on The Moana, with co-captains Sam Bremner, Kezie Apps and Ali Brigginshaw all selected.
Donald has aimed to steel his side for the punishing schedule where games will be 80 minutes long instead of the 70 minutes players are used to in the NRLW.
Before leaving Australia the Jillaroos trained in the Gold Coast humidity and drizzle for an extended session the players are still talking about a fortnight later in camp.
The intense and physical session started and finished with what is known as a 30-15 intermittent fitness test, both won by Bremner, which prop Kennedy Cherrington said was a welcome reality check.
"We got smashed and it was one of the hardest sessions any of us have done, but it also showed that we are fit and ready to go for the World Cup. If we have to go that extra mile we are clearly capable," Cherrington told AAP.
"That session brought us so much closer and made us respect each other's work rate. It showed true character and that is what we will need early in the campaign.
"We have four-day turnarounds and are going to be playing 80 minutes and that session simulated the tough times we are going to have to push through whether we are sore or tired.
"It showed trust, and that is going to be crucial in that 70 to 80 minute bracket when games are on the line."
Bremner said the 30-15 was similar to a beep test but more specific to rugby league. It is the moral behind it that she said was the key.
"The 30-15 is something we have been doing at the Jillaroos since about 2016 where there is a lot of stop-starting and as time goes on you get faster and run further," she told AAP.
"In the end it is about what you can achieve but more so about the camaraderie that it builds.
"Everyone knows that going through really tough things brings people together and that is what the 30-15 does for us.
"I like high pressure situations and being challenged.
"As a senior player and a leader those things are important for me to step up in because I can't ask anyone else to step up if I don't. It is what we all have to do at the World Cup."
JILLAROOS SQUAD: Sam Bremner, Julia Robinson, Isabelle Kelly, Shenae Ciesiolka*, Evania Pelite*, Tarryn Aiken*, Ali Brigginshaw, Shannon Mato*, Lauren Brown*, Caitlan Johnston*, Kezie Apps, Olivia Kernick*, Simaima Taufa. Interchange: Taliah Fuimaono*, Holli Wheeler, Kennedy Cherrington*, Yasmin Clydsdale*. Reserves: Emma Tonegato, Shaylee Bent.
*Denotes debutant
