QLD debutant Amber Pilley tasked with stopping NSW in their tracks
When NSW run onto North Sydney Oval on Friday night, they will find their path blocked by a Maroon brick wall and the finest defensive back in the women’s game.
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New South Wales have been warned to expect a maroon brick wall in Friday night’s Women’s Origin clash.
The Maroons will unleash the best defensive back in the competition when Broncos young gun Amber Pilley is asked to put her body on the line at North Sydney Oval.
Pilley, a premiership-winning Bronco, will join two other Maroons debutants, Jessika Elliston and Stephanie Mooka, in a defensive ploy by Queensland to stop the Blues’ rampaging outside backs.
The 21-year-old Pilley played for Brisbane in last year’s inaugural NRLW competition, starred in this year’s Indigenous All Stars game and is also the second-cousin of injured Maroons enforcer Jai Arrow.
Former Jillaroos legend Tahnee Norris said Pilley’s bruising defence could be the game-changer for Queensland.
“She’s one of the best defensive centres in the game at the moment,” Norris said.
“To her benefit, she’s so strong in one-on-one defence and that’s where I rate her defensively.
“That’s going to be a massive benefit for Queensland because the back five of NSW are really strong and athletic and Amber doesn’t back away from that kind of stuff.”
Pilley could line up against last year’s match winner Isabelle Kelly but Norris said that was hardly a worry for the young Queensland centre.
“She’s definitely up to the task of handling Issy,” Norris said. “Not much gets passed Amber.
“She’s super strong and competitive so she won’t let anyone get through her.”
When Pilley was asked what she wanted to add to this year’s Queensland side, her answer was plain and simple: defence.
“Just solid defence,” Pilley said.
“Defence was an area, particularly on the edge, that the team has struggled with in previous years.
“So I’m hoping to just add some solid defence.”
Pilley said her Origin debut was a dream come true after aspiring to play for Queensland since she was a young girl.
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