Lori Cramer is relishing her role as an experienced head in the Wallaroos set up, and is hungry to restart the growing rivalry with Wales this weekend at Ballymore.
Playing a major part in the Wallaroos WXV 2 opening win over Wales last year in South Africa, the chance to face the women in red on her home turf at Ballymore is one the Queensland Reds star is excited to take advantage of.
Get your tickets now for the Wallaroos two-match series against Wales. "Ballymore's home for me and for rugby here in Queensland," Cramer said to reporters on Tuesday.
"It's the home of the Wallaroos now, so getting to play at our home is really special - I like having a small, intimate setting - you can see like the fans just there right next to the sidelines.
"We really enjoy it, we have our own space, it's our home. Any kind of Test match, any kind of footy game at Ballymore is always a cracker.
"We want to win these Test matches as well. It creates confidence and builds combinations. We've had a lot more time together recently.
"That's probably a bit different to last year. We didn't have time together, but I think we've had the whole year leading up to this next month and a bit. So, we're kind of hitting our straps where we need to be.
"The games against Wales, they always get a bit fiery between us. I really enjoy playing Wales personally. It's always a bit of a tough match. But we're up for it and we want to go into the World Cup in form."
A healthy crowd is expected to welcome both sides to Ballymore on Saturday afternoon - and Cramer knows the Wallaroos will have to put in a big shift, with the Welsh side desperate to find their first win of the year ahead of their World Cup campaign commencing.
"We know that they're going to try and maul, they're good at that," she said.
"They're very well-dominant, very set-piece dominant. They've got a really good kick battle and they've got some lightning, some really good strike players on the edges and in their backs.
"Lleucu George is just an absolute freak. She's got, in my opinion, the best boot in women's rugby right now. I look up to her so much when it comes to the kick game. So, definitely we're going to have an eye out when she's got the ball in her hand.
"She's a good distributor as well. They've got, obviously, Jasmine Joyce and Carys Cox on the edge and out the back."
While the Welsh will pose a significant challenge, the Wallaroos themselves will have plenty of firepower to call upon.
Despite the losses of Charlotte Caslick and skipper Siokapesi Palu, Cramer backs the improvements made this season and growing depth to deliver results, with their absence breeding competition for positions.
Despite playing in only two games so far this year, Cramer has been aiming to make use of her experience and versatility to contribute to the squad.
In fact, her appearance in the Wallaroos coaches box in New Zealand suggests a career in coaching could be on the horizon once the 29-capped Wallaroo hangs up her boots for good.
"With the Sevens girls coming in, I think everyone always knew that it would shake things up a little bit," Cramer said.
"They've been professional athletes for years now. So, it's just about adapting yourself as an athlete and trying to figure out how you can then become indispensable for the team.
"For me, that comes with my experience and a bit of my leadership as well. I remember saying two years ago, the World Cup's going to come up, the Sevens girls will be in there. I'm obviously a little bit older.
"Whether I can match them physically for pace, I could use my wisdom or use my smarts a little bit better. That's been something I've been trying to lean into, being a bit versatile as well.
"If you've got World Cup years, as much as you want to play every minute and you want to do all the things, you've kind of got to put your ego aside a bit… obviously, you want to play, but it's not about me.
"You want to send your best team to the World Cup. It's about the Wallaroos and it's about this team. So, if I'm the best person for the job of the day, then let's go.
"If I'm not, then I would have to figure out how I can contribute because it's not always about what happens on the field. I can play a huge role off the field as well."
That versatility has been reflected in her 2025 season, with Cramer slotting into the flyhalf for the role and making herself a valuable utility option off the bench.
She will get the chance to stake her claim for the squad this weekend - with plenty more work for the Wallaroos to complete as they search for that 80-minute performance.
"It's less about them and more about us," the 29-capped Wallaroo said.
"That's super cliche, but we've got a World Cup coming up - it doesn't matter that they haven't won a game [this year].
"It's Wales, they're always desperate for a scrap and so are we. I really like playing against them, it's always a tough match, it's always really physical.
"For us, we just want to be able to play an 80-minute game, I think that's something that we haven't been able to do consistently.
"We want to be able to play an 80-minute game and get good results."
