Momentum is flying with the Wallaroos as the side prepares for their crunch match against Canada - and Bree-Anna Browne believes Jo Yapp's 'growth' approach is yielding huge results, both on and off the field.
The Wallaroos will come into their match against the current Pacific Four champions in uncharted waters - having won five of their last six Test matches, a feat the side has never achieved before in their history.
Catch the Wallaroos take on Canada on Friday live, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
Even their loss against the Black Ferns indicated a side on the up, and prop Bree-Anna Browne admitted the injection of players and the 'growth' approach by Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp and the coaching staff had transformed the squad.
"I think getting the confidence of these wins, it makes us even hungrier," Browne said to reporters on Tuesday morning.
"It's not about, oh, we're happy to compete or we're happy to perform. It's like, no, it's not an option now. Let's go for it. We actually can do this.
"We want this more than ever, especially at a year like this year, a World Cup. It's massive for us."
Browne has been relishing her time back in the squad, after being out of the game for 14 months due to injury.
The contrast in the squad compared to where the team was when she made her 2022 debut has been particularly notable for the Reds prop - especially in the time invested in growing the culture off the field.
"For me, it was about getting competitive again," the 11-capped Wallaroo added about her recovery.
"I just wanted to make the Pac-4 series. That's all in my control. It's an unreal feeling to be back here.
"I've slipped into old jokes and behaviours with all the girls, and it's like I've never left.
"There's a massive difference coming into this first series for me. I can really see the development that we've had, not just as rugby players on the field, but off the field.
"We've spent a lot of time together as a team connecting on things that matter outside rugby to make us better people."
One of the leaders in that regard has been the Wallaroos all-time cap leader Ashley Marsters, whose experience shone through against a strong USA pack, bagging two tries in Canberra.
"I was lucky enough to play with her back in 2019 in Super W," Browne said of Marsters.
"She's someone that I look up to on the field. She's an amazing player and someone I will turn to when maybe things aren't going right for us.
"She just brings this type of energy and power across the field, she just knows what to say or know what to do. She brings that spark. She's got the flair, but she's calm and level-headed at the same time.
"It doesn't surprise me, knowing who she is, that she can just pick up these positions because she's so talented.
"I think she's a very unique and very great player."
Like their USA clash last week, Friday's fixture against Canada could have significant ramifications for the Wallaroos in the context of their Rugby World Cup campaign.
Should the Wallaroos progress through to the quarter finals as runners up to hosts England, they will likely face the Canadians, who will be favourites to top Pool B.
Even ignoring the context of the World Cup, the Wallaroos have plenty of motivation to earn a maiden win against the current world number two side despite coming close on several occasions.
Browne believes the Wallaroos' growing confidence will see them more than up for taking on the massive Canadian forward pack - and that the side's approach in a World Cup year will continue to yield results.
"Leading into Canada, we're ripped in yesterday at training and a bigger day today," Browne admitted candidly.
"We're just keen to get down to Brisbane on Wednesday.
"Canada definitely have a very strong set-piece and we want to match them in this game. We don't want to be a bystander in that area.
"We're working really hard, especially on our maul defence and our maul attack.
"We want to beat them. We want to show them that we're just as competitive in that area."
In that regard, Browne brings valuable experience - herself having been to the last World Cup in New Zealand - and imparting that experience onto the side has been a key part of the off-field growth.
"It's built a massive excitement for us," Browne admitted.
"I did go to the World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 - it's given me a lot of experience coming out of that.
"It's a long time being away, training. So for me, the experience that I take out of that is you've got to take the little moments here and there, fill your cup up when you can, because it is a long, long time.
"Some of the experience I will take on to the girls for their first time is just to take the moments as they come and make sure you're filling your cup, because it'll be a long hustle."
