The road to the 2025 Women's World Cup is underway, with the Wallaroos heading into camp in June ahead of their July Tests, serving as their final prep for the event.
Tests against the Blacks Ferns and Wales loom, and with the World Cup set to be bigger than ever, the competition for spots in the national side has never been stronger.
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Rugby.com.au presents 'Road to England': A position-by-position breakdown of the key contenders and bolters ahead of the squad selection later in the year.
Today we move into the backs options, starting with the halves, and with four-five spots available given the make-ups of previous World Cup squads, this looms as one of the most critical selections for Jo Yapp's team.
One of the big bolters since making her debut for the Wallaroos in 2023, Faitala Moleka's form played a major part in the side picking up their maiden WXV 2 title in 2024.
Her form has continued in 2025, frequently besting her opponents in Super Rugby Women's despite the Brumbies finishing at the bottom of the ladder.
Performing well off the boot in the Pacific Four Series and combining well with Layne Morgan at scrum half and Caitlyn Halse at fullback, her ticket to England is likely secure.
Speaking of incumbents, Morgan has become one of the most established players under the developing Wallaroo program - with 33 caps to her name since her 2022 debut.
The 26-year-old Novocastrian has continued her stranglehold on the nine jersey since moving to Queensland - with her form playing a major part in the Sunshine State's bounce back in 2025.
With her starting in all Test matches so far in 2025, Morgan, bar any sudden injuries, looks likely to be part of the side that kicks off their World Cup campaign later this year in Manchester.
Morgan's running mate in both the Wallaroos and the Queensland Reds, Natalie Wright is a heavy favourite to be the back up scrum half.
Her game has developed alongside Morgan's thanks to the duo being in close proximity, being named on the bench in all games except Canada in 2025.
One of several champion Sevens stars that has stuck with the XVs outfit - Hinds has arguably been one of the biggest bolters in the entire squad, and with good reason.
With Arabella McKenzie currently not in the squad, Yapp has been looking for a strong back up flyhalf with plenty of experience, and Hinds has made a promising transition.
Overcoming a tough opening thirty minutes against the Black Ferns, Hinds' Sevens experience has started to shine through - and she has the makings of being a dangerous flyhalf in gold.
One of the senior members of the squad, Lori Cramer is becoming one of Jo Yapp's most valuable utility back options.
Originally playing at fullback for all of her 29 Wallaroo caps, Cramer has increasingly made the shift to flyhalf over the course of 2025 at the Reds - with encouraging results.
Such an experience could prove vital should a star playmaker go down - which only further suggests she will likely be on the plane to England.
A regular part of the Wallaroo set up since her debut in 2019, Arabella McKenzie has been a notable omission from Jo Yapp's side - last featuring in the Wallaroos' line up when they first lost to Wales in September 2024.
McKenzie has bounced back quickly in 2025 - being part of a Waratahs side that went on to win their sixth title.
She will have plenty of opportunities playing club rugby at Easts to keep pushing her case - and could still be a bolter into the side.
The starting flyhalf in the inaugural Australia A side in 2024, six-capped Wallaroo Carys Dallinger has been on the comeback trail since the 2023 Wallaroos WXV 1 campaign - being the flyhalf when Australia beat France and Wales to finish third.
Dallinger has had some stiff competition at the Reds in 2025, with the arrival of Charlotte Caslick and the movement of Lori Cramer into flyhalf.
However, given her brief time in Wallaroo gold saw some of the best recent results, Dallinger could be considered a potential bolter should injuries affect the current side.
A three-capped Wallaroo scrumhalf who signed with the Western Force in 2025, Georgia Cormick has spent the last few years playing for Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki and Otago in the Farah Palmer Cup, following her 2022 departure from the Rebels.
Working closely alongside several Wallaroos stars in the West as they made their second consecutive finals campaign, Cormick's form and experience shone through - which could work in her favour for potential future international honours.
Returning to rugby in 2025 after a two-year in the NRLW, Ella Ryan has firmly risen in the Wallaroo ranks, despite not getting a debut yet.
The 11-capped Brumby was included in the extended squad for the 2025 Pacific Four Series - and will likely be on the radar for both Sevens and the Wallaroos after being part of the Australian side that won the Global Youth Sevens tournament late last year in New Zealand.
One of the breakout stars in 2024 for both the Wallaroos and the Western Force, Sam Wood has been sidelined for most of the 2025 season with a back injury.
The talented scrum half took out the Force's 2024 Rebecca Clough Medal, and once she returns to full fitness is expected to be in consideration.
