IT was the hit that was felt right across the Tasman.
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It sent 40,000 fans at Eden Park into raptures and sent a clear message that women’s rugby league was the real deal.
Jillaroos star Sam Bremner (nee Hammond) still struggles to remember the moments immediately after she was levelled by Kiwi Ferns enforcer Maitua Feterika at the 2015 Auckland Nines but she doesn’t have to look far for a reminder.
A YouTube clip of the massive hit circulated widely online and, with less than a month until this year’s Nines, has recently resurfaced.
Bremner, a genuine star of the women’s game with a playing style that has been likened to that of Melbourne Storm great Billy Slater, welcomes the attention even if it wasn’t all that fun at the time.
‘‘It popped up in my news feed a week ago so it’s still going,’’ Bremner said.
"I love it. It's all part of the game and every person that saw me cop that hit is one more person who knows women play rugby league.
‘‘The Kiwi Ferns and the Jillaroos were out there trying to do the same thing which was grow women’s rugby league.
‘‘She had to get me to the ground to stop me from scoring one way or another and she did that.
‘‘It was just so awesome playing on that stage.
“There was such a big hype around it and people were so surprised about the quality of the game and what great footy it was.
‘‘The more people that have seen the clip the more people know that women’s rugby league is out there so it’s almost a blessing in disguise...even if I can’t remember the couple of minutes after it.’’
The hit was one of many highlights from the three-game series between the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns that was shown live on Fox Sports in the most significant step in the history of the women’s game.
Bremner and the Jillaroos will be looking for redemption for last year’s series defeat when they return to Eden Park for the 2016 Auckland Nines on February 6.
MORE COVERAGE, P30.