Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus joins Queensland women’s Maroons camp

Queensland have unleashed a secret weapon in defence of their State of Origin title, with Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus joining Maroons camp for a high performance pep talk.

Queensland have unleashed a secret weapon in defence of their State of Origin title with Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus joining Maroons camp for a high performance pep talk.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist, who calls Brisbane home, was called into Maroons camp on the Gold Coast on Monday night ahead of Thursday’s series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

With a booming crowd and a massive broadcast audience expected for game one, Titmus spoke to the team about performing under pressure and the strategies she uses to boost performance.

Ali Brigginshaw, Ariarne Titmus and Tamika Upton. Picture: Maroons

The 24-year-old then watched the team train in an opposed session at Cbus Super Stadium.

“She’s pretty accomplished, so hearing her speak was a pretty cool experience,” said Maroons forward Chelsea Lenarduzzi.

“She spoke a lot about strategy she uses around performance, because obviously she’s the best.

“I’m a big Olympics fan too, so I was super pumped, there were a few who were really excited. Romy Teitzel is a big Arnie fan, so she was frothing. That was really cool.”

Titmus with Maroons prop Chelsea Lenarduzzi. Picture: Maroons

Although she competes in an individual sport, Lenarduzzi said she spoke of the similarities and insights into how to get the best of yourself in a team environment.

“When team sport athletes interact with individual sport athletes they can get a lot out of it,” she said.

“In rugby league, we play a 70 minute game, but she has less than a couple of minutes to perform depending on the event. She has a shorter window to get everything right. It just gives you a different way to look at the game, and take different things out of it.

“The vibes were high. Everyone wanted to sit next to her on the bus.”

Titmus gave the Maroons a rev-up for their opening Origin game on Thursday. Picture: Maroons

That privilege went to Canberra star Sophie Holyman.

“She’s a great person to sit next to because Sophie can talk to an arm chair,” Lenarduzzi joked.

The NRL is expecting a crowd in excess of last year’s round one attendance for Thursday night, which kicks off Magic Round in Brisbane.

Titmus will be among them.

“She did say (she’s a fan), she’s coming on Thursday,” Lenarduzzi said.

“Because she’s always been training she hasn’t really been able to come to midweek footy games, so she will be there on Thursday which is really cool.

“It’ll give the girls a bit more motivation.”

Originally published as Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus joins Queensland women’s Maroons camp