Women’s State of Origin 2024: Maroons star ruled out as historic decider sells out in Townsville
Brisbane Broncos recruit Keilee Joseph will start for the Maroons in Origin III stepping in to replace injured Titans gun Sienna Lofipo.
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Big name Broncos recruit Keilee Joseph will start her first game of the Women’s State of Origin series after being called in to replace injured Titans gun Sienna Lofipo in next Thursday’s decider in Townsville.
Lofipo, 19, suffered a PCL injury in Queensland’s heart-stopping 11-10 win in Newcastle, ruling her out of the first decider of a three-game series for the women.
However, it’s a dream start for Joseph who was ruled out of Origin I with a knee injury she suffered while playing for Souths Logan Magpies.
She played 35 minutes off the bench with four tackle-breaks and 18 tackles in game two at McDonald Jones Stadium, and her stint helped Queensland level the series.
Her addition to the starting 13 is the only change for Maroons coach Tahnee Norris ahead of what’s expected to be a sold out decider at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Sophie Holyman has been recalled into the 17 to replace Joseph on the bench after missing game two, while Emily Bass and Chelsea Lenarduzzi will join the squad on an extended bench in camp this week.
The experienced Broncos prop hasn’t played Origin since 2022.
On Tuesday NSW also named an unchanged line-up for what is expected to be back-to-back sold out games.
SELL OUT: WOMEN’S ORIGIN SET FOR HISTORIC DECIDER
Women’s State of Origin is on track for a second-straight sell out with more than 20,000 tickets sold for game three in Townsville.
The first decider of a three-game series will play out at Queensland Country Bank Stadium next Thursday night in front of what’s expected to be a packed house of around 25,000 fans.
It will be the second time this series and only the second time in history a women’s State of Origin game has sold out following a record-breaking crowd of 25,782 at McDonald Jones Stadium for game two.
The decider in Townsville has already sold more tickets than the final crowd of last year’s Origin II, which was 18275.
That was a world record for a stand alone women’s game, but it has been smashed in the first two games of this year’s series.
It’s a huge win for the NRL after expanding women’s Origin this year and on the verge of another NRLW expansion to 12
teams in 2025.
The NRL has landed on a planning sweet spot in 2024, with games in one-team towns like Townsville and Newcastle flocking to the women’s game.
It comes as NSW coach Kylie Hilder named an unchanged squad for game three, staying loyal to the team that was beaten 11-10 in a thriller in Newcastle.
The Blues will go into camp later this week before travelling to Townsville.
Queensland will name their team on Wednesday afternoon before heading into camp.
Originally published as Women’s State of Origin 2024: Maroons star ruled out as historic decider sells out in Townsville
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