Olivia Kernick has opened up about being dropped from the Jillaroos set-up after winning the Dally M Medal, as she prepares to make her return to the Australian Test side for the first time in over a year.
The 24-year-old back-rower has been named to start in Australia's one-off Test with England that forms part of the NRL's season opener in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEDT).
Kernick was surprisingly omitted from last year's end-of-season Pacific Championships squad after winning the NRLW's Dally M Medal and scoring two tries in the Sydney Roosters' grand final win.
The edge forward's Jillaroos omission prompted fierce debate and ramped up on the pressure on longstanding national coach Brad Donald, who has since resigned from his post and been replaced by Jess Skinner.
"I was really disappointed not to make the Pacific champs squad at the end of the year," Kernick told AAP.
"Ultimately those decisions are in the hands of other people and I can only focus on what I can control, which is my performance.
"I took the positives from a negative situation and I was able to go to New Zealand, see my family and play in a Maori tournament."
Adding to the furore was the fact Kernick was told of her non-selection while enjoying a grand final after-party with her Roosters teammates.
Kernick also confirmed reports she had been invited back into camp to present jerseys to the selected Jillaroos, despite having been overlooked herself.
"It's such a hard time to announce the team and let the players know because the coach doesn't want to do it before a grand final and put a player off their game," she said.
"They've got to prepare and let players know information about the Pacific champs.
"It just happened to fall on our Mad Monday, but I was just happy I had the girls around me and it was a good environment to be in."
Kernick has had a good insight into Skinner's methods over recent weeks, having been part of the Indigenous All Stars camp with her this month.
Skinner has the Jillaroos job on an interim basis only.
"To be in Vegas is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Kernick said.
"Jess has been awesome, she's been such a role model for me ever since I first came into NRLW.
"I think she's doing such great things in the coaching space, not only as a woman, but as someone with Indigenous and Maori ties, so I think that's super inspiring for everyone."
