Jillaroos star Millie Elliot has been a very noticable absentee in Vegas this week, now it can be revealed why.

The Sydney Roosters and NRLW veteran along with her NRL star husband Adam Elliot are expecting their first child.

Elliot has stood down from all footy for 12 months to welcome their new bundle of joy and abstained from the bright lights of Vegas with their baby due in October.

‘At the end of last season we decided it would be nice to have a baby.

‘We’re very grateful we’ve reached this stage of the pregnancy (12 weeks).’

Millie Elliot and her NRL star husband Adam Elliot are expecting their first child together

The Jillaroos star will miss out on the historic clash against England in Las Vegas on Sunday

Elliott will continue to do her media work for Channel 9 and intends to honour the final two years of her contract with the Roosters in 2026 and 2027.

‘The plan is to stop playing for 12 months,’ she said.

‘If everything is going okay I’ll be back next year.

‘I’m extremely grateful for the support from the Roosters and the NRL.’

The Roosters will be able to replace Elliot for the 2025 season without breaking the salary cap, with chairman Nick Politis calling the announcement a proud moment for the club.

‘We’re all so happy for Millie and Adam,’ Politis said.

‘It’s a wonderful thing that rugby league has a structure in place where female athletes can start a family, take the time off, but then return when they are ready to play out their contracts.’

Meanwhile Jess Skinner has made quite an impression on Australian co-captain Kezie Apps ahead of her first match in charge of the Jillaroos in Las Vegas.

Elliot will sit out the 2025 season with the Sydney Roosters before returning for the 2026 season

Elliot will continue her media duties with Channel 9 this year and is expecting their child in October

Long-time assistant Skinner was thrust into the hot seat when previous coach Brad Donald was fired less than a month from the historic Test against England.

Donald had come under scrutiny by the NRL for a disparaging comment made about a journalist in front of the playing group.

But if Skinner is daunted by her new appointment, the women’s Indigenous All Stars coach has not let on.

‘She’s awesome, I think it’s just her personality and her cool, kind demeanour,’ Apps said in Las Vegas.

‘She’s just being herself, she’s not trying to be anyone else. She’s just being the coach that she is.

‘This was a great transition for her and we knew that she’d be up for it. Hopefully we can get a win for her and set her season up for a great start.’

Skinner, who has also served on Newcastle’s NRLW coaching staff, has indicated her hopes of holding the job on a permanent basis as the Jillaroos prepare to defend their title at the 2026 World Cup.

Fullback Tamika Upton believes she is up to the task.

Tamika Upton has returned for the Jillaroos after being sensationally overlooked despite winning the Dally M in 2024

‘This is something she’s more than ready for and something she’s been striving for. I’m excited for her,’ Upton said.

Concerns had surrounded Apps’ ability to participate in the match when she sat out part of a field session earlier in the week with strapping on her knee.

But the second-rower is not in doubt for Australia’s first Test against England since 2017 – before the formation of the NRLW.

The strong contingent of travelling English fans chanted at the Jillaroos during their appearance at the NRL’s Fan Fest in downtown Las Vegas on Friday night (AEDT).

Apps expects a hostile atmosphere at Allegiant Stadium when the Jillaroos run out for the third of four games on the schedule.

‘I hope they are very vocal when we’re playing them as well, and backing their English women,’ she said.

‘The more eyes on our game, the better for us.’