The 32-year-old Lioness is thrilled with the dramatic strides the sport has taken since she first represented England in 2009, highlighting the stark contrast in funding, support, and opportunities.
“When I started, nobody cared, we got no funding, kits didn’t fit, and there were no young girls in the crowd,” Cunningham told BBC Sport.
Now, with the Women’s Super League thriving since its launch in 2017 and top clubs like Leeds Rhinos and St Helens paying players, women’s rugby league is seeing unprecedented fan attendance and recognition.
As England ramps up preparations for a blockbuster showdown against Australia in Las Vegas next March, Cunningham lauds the ongoing progress, noting that next season, every Super League team will be required to establish an Academy Under-19s program to nurture young talent.
The level of development, she told the BBC, is paving the way for future generations and has made the sport’s visibility skyrocket. “The product on the field is phenomenal,” she added, marking the match against Wales as invaluable preparation for England’s growing ambitions on the global stage.
