The Nixon Report - Women's rugby league what is the strategy>

THEY say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but what happened on Saturday to the England women cannot – and must not - be brushed under the carpet. Lessons have to be learned from that humiliating defeat at the hands of the Jillaroos.

Australia show the gap between the hemispheres!

History was made for the women’s game on Saturday, but what should have been a memorable occasion quickly turned into a nightmare for Jodie Cunningham and her teammates as the Australians out-muscled and out-classed their Super League counterparts. They were just too strong, too fast and too skilful – it was almost cruel to watch.

Amy Hardcastle had spoken before the game that a victory over Australia would be ground-breaking – after the game she said she felt like she had been in a washing machine. Cunningham admitted there is much to do for the women’ game in this country if we are to ever get near to – never mind match – the standards set by the likes of Ali Briggenshaw, Tamika Upton, Isabelle Kelly and the formidable Olivia Kernick.

But you cannot – and should not – blame the players who pulled on the England shirt for this record-breaking defeat. The fact they came up so short on the night should be no reflection of their attitude and their talent. But what they have to do now is stand up and demand a change – because this is a watershed moment for the women’s game.

Match Highlights curtesy of Sky Sports on YouTube

You can argue that the RFL and Sky Sports need to share some of the responsibility for this. As Dan Ginnane pointed out in his commentary, the Australian women are reaping the rewards of a progressive attitude from the NRL and the coverage the game gets Down Under.

However, with the exception of St Helens, Leeds and York – and more recently Wigan, Leigh and Swinton – it is the clubs that need to take a look at themselves and their attitudes and ask are they doing enough to promote – and support - the women’s game in this country.

In Australia, the women are either professional or semi-professional, over here the majority of players don’t get paid. A lot of them can’t even use the same facilities as the men – in Australia some even train with the men.

Most have to juggle careers and families before they get to training and then, if they suffer injury, are at the mercy of NHS waiting lists or face the prospect of paying for extortionate private medical care.

What’s the answer? Well, it isn’t bringing in heritage players as Stuart Barrow is suggesting – that’s an easy out for the clubs that can’t – or won’t - invest in the women’s game and pushes our homegrown players further down the pecking order.

Some of those players on the receiving end of that defeat in Vegas were celebrating beating the likes of Warrington by 80 and 90 points at the end last season – now they know what that feels like it’s time to hear their voices in support of creating a stronger league.

If the women’s game is to get stronger, it’s up to the players involved on Saturday to stand up and be counted.

There are so many talented girls taking up rugby league at clubs around the country, not just the M62 corridor. These girls need to be encouraged – in 10 years’ time they could be taking on the best in the world and beating them. But the investment in them, not necessarily financial, needs to happen now before they turn their back on the game for good – and the clubs are instrumental to that development.

This result can never happen again. 80-nil drubbings cannot be allowed to continue in Super League – or at international level - if we hope to grow the women’s game in this country.