Maroons icon Trevor Gillmeister the Queensland Women’s answer to coach whisperer
The Queensland Women don’t need a coach whisperer for State of Origin. They’ve got their own secret weapon in a Maroons legend who will fire them up to bring the shield home.
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Forget coach whisperers — the Women’s Maroons squad have their own coaching weapon to ready them for Friday night’s clash against the Blues.
Former Origin legend and firebrand Queenslander Trevor Gillmeister has been brought into Origin camp again this year to help coach Jason Hetherington bring the shield back north of the border.
The 22-game Maroons great, “Gilly” is helping this year’s women’s squad with their defence.
Nicknamed “The Axe” because of his tackling ability to chop down players, Gillmeister has strengthened Queensland’s defence ahead of Friday night’s game.
But he’s also added an extra bit of firepower to the squad.
A rousing speech before the women’s opposed session against the Palm Beach Currumbin schoolboys on Monday had each of the players “fired up” in an ominous sign for the Blues come Friday night.
His passionate words of wisdom will echo around North Sydney Oval as he is also set to take over from former Queensland legend Alfie Langer to run the water for the women.
Queensland stalwart Heather Ballinger said his passionate talk before training sessions had given the playing group “goosebumps”.
“He’ll share stories about what the boys get up to but he really embraces the girls and listens like a dad at the same time,” Ballinger said.
“He’s been great.
“He absolutely does fire us up. He gave us a little talk before the Palm Beach Currumbin boys and we were all ready for an Origin game hence why our training session went so well.
“His talk really picks up the girls and gives you goosebumps but he can take a joke and he’s a bit cheeky.”
The Women’s side hasn’t followed the men in banning the use of the words “New South Wales” or the “Blues” but coach Jason Hetherington said it would not have been a bad idea.
“Listen I should do it because it worked for Kevvy but no I haven’t crossed that line,” Hetherington said.
He said Gillmeister’s addition to the coaching squad complemented his assistant coaches in former Women’s Origin legends Nat Dwyer and Karyn Murphy.
“We’ve got a really good outfit in the staffing,” Hetherington said. “There’s a lot of experience and understanding of what it means to play for Queensland.
“You’ve got to get that dynamic right and we’ve got a really good blend.
“We won’t have Alfie (Langer) to do the water this year so Gilly will be doing that for us as well.”
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