Ballinger, who was a member of the Brisbane team which won the inaugural Holden NRL Women's Premiership, was named player of the match in her farewell Test for Australia as the Jillaroos overcome the loss of star St George Illawarra forward Kezie Apps.Jillaroos coach Brad Donald revealed that Ballinger had told team-mates, who included five debutants after Dragons centre Jess Sergis was injured at training on Friday, how Australia had only beaten the Kiwi Ferns in New Zealand once in the third Test of the 1999 series. "She got up and spoke about how we have only ever beaten the Kiwis once here in all the times we have been playing them and those memories from players like Heather Ballinger inspired the team," Jillaroos coach Brad Donald said."Shes been a mainstay of the team for a long time. She was wondering whether she should give it away [earlier] but to end with a Broncos premiership and to be player of the match in a trans-Tasman Test is just outstanding."With the teams scoring five tries apiece, the goal kicking of fullback Chelsea Baker proved the difference but she missed her last two attempts and appeared to be affected by a groin injury.
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