Jillaroos coach sensationally quits after Pacific Championships selection storm

Jillaroos head coach Brad Donald has sensationally quit the job following a selection storm in October.

Donald has quit just a few months after he and selectors were grilled for leaving Dally M Medal winner Olivia Kernick out of the team for the Pacific Championships.

It also follows the NRL investigating him for an alleged foul-mouthed rant about a journalist in front of players.

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The NRL bizarrely announced Donald's departure in a press release on Friday, which named a squad for Australia's historic Test against England later this month.

It merely stated "Jess Skinner has been appointed as interim Jillaroos coach".

"The ARLC acknowledges and thanks Brad for his extensive efforts in coaching and elevating the Jillaroos to the position they are in as the number one ranked team in the world and World Cup champions," the NRL statement said.

Kernick, and the wider rugby league community, were left bemused at her selection snub.

The gun backrower had also won the NRLW premiership with the Roosters and scored two tries in the grand final just days before the squad was picked.

The coach was grilled about the non-selection at the time but his answer left only more questions about his reasoning.

"Liv is probably not too far off, she was on the bench for NSW this year as well and she will be the next one in if something went down," Donald said.

Kernick started all three Origin games in the back row for the Blues last year, making Donald's comment nonsensical.

"Don't tell me Brad Donald didn't watch the Origin games, and he's the Australian coach. Tell me that didn't happen," league legend Greg Alexander said on SEN radio.

"He's seen (she was wearing jersey) 15 … how can he have watched? If he's actually said she started on the bench in Origin... How can he say that if she didn't?"

Skinner will now coach her first game when the Jillaroos take on England in Las Vegas on March 1.

Kernick has been picked in the squad this time.

JILLAROOS SQUAD v ENGLAND

Tarryn Aitken, Kezie Apps (c), Ali Brigginshaw (c), Lauren Brown, Yasmin Clydsdale, Keeley Davis, Quincy Dodd, Jessika Elliston, Olivia Higgins, Keilee Joseph, Isabelle Kelly, Olivia Kernick, Shannon Mato, Mahalia Murphy, Tiana Penitani, Julia Robinson, Jessica Sergis, Simaima Taufa, Sarah Togatuki, Tamika Upton, Jakiya Whitfield.