NSW v Queensland 1-17, player profiles
THE first time the women have played under this title, but certainly not the first time they’ve gone into battle against each other. Here’s what you need to know about each player.
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PRESSURE: Hype won’t affect Blues Origin women
IT’S the best of the best of women’s rugby league.
New South Wales v Queensland. The first time the women have played under this title, but certainly not the first time they’ve gone into battle against each other.
The Blues are looking to make in three wins in a row over their northern counterparts, a dominance that only goes a small way to making up for the 17 straight wins the Maroons put on them before that.
They’re one to 17, as per program and here’s what you need to know about each player.
NEW SOUTH WALES 1. Sam Bremner - Fullback (Helensburgh Tigers; Dragons NRL)
After a year laid off with injury Bremner is back and as strong as ever. Bremner returned to the field with Helensburgh just seven weeks ago and starred at the National Championship at the start of the month, captaining NSW Country to victory and taking out player of the tournament.
2. Taleena Simon - Wing (South Sydney Rabbitohs; Roosters NRL)
Fast, agile, tenacious, you won’t miss Simon on-field, she’ll be the one taking the ball at the line at full speed and without fear. The Souths outside back is one of the biggest dangers to Queensland on the field. Her footwork means she can break the line from any point of the field and she’s got the speed to go all the way. A former contracted Australian Sevens player, she says a lot of what she does now was picked up during her two years there.
3. Corban McGregor - Centre (Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks; Roosters NRL)
Another of the NSW backs who can hurt a defensive line from anywhere on the park, McGregor has the pace to finish it off. A strong runner with a wealth of experience despite only having taken up league four years ago.
4. Isabelle Kelly - Centre (CRL Newcastle; Roosters NRL)
A proven finisher who crossed the stripe the second most times at last year’s World Cup with six tries for the tournament. Another of the Blues with pace to burn. Kelly can bust open the line or has the strength and power to force her way over.
5. Nakia Davis-Welsh - Wing (South Sydney Rabbitohs; Roosters NRL)
Don’t expect Davis-Welsh to be a wilting flower on the wing. The nimble back ably held her own at the back while deputising for Sam Bremner at fullback during last year’s World Cup. Can make plenty of metres and will be sure to injecting herself whenever possible.
6. Lavina O’Mealey -Five-eighth (South Sydney Rabbitohs; Roosters NRL)
O’Mealey is a true allrounder and team player. A known playmaker, she has also spent time in a utility role at national level. Says she’s modelled her game on Cooper Cronk and worked to emulate his kicking game. A player who reads the game well and can dictate play.
7. Maddie Studdon (Captain) - Halfback (South Sydney Rabbitohs; Roosters NRL)
Studdon is ready to take control. With tough competition for halves spots at state and national level, Studdon has worked hard on her game the past 12 months, developing her kicking game. Her first time as captain stepping in for the injured Ruan Sims.
8. Elianna Walton (Vice Captain) - Prop (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs; Roosters NRL)
An experienced forward who will lead from the front alongside Simaima Taufa. Plays with grit and aggression which will be important against a Queensland selected for power.
9. Rebecca Riley - Hooker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Her third appearance for NSW, Riley, who’s also represented the Indigenous All Stars, won’t be overawed by the occasion. A huge talent who was player of the tournament at the 2016 Koori Knockout. Her darts from dummy-half will keep the Maroons on their toes.
10. Simaima Taufa - Prop (Mounties; Roosters NRL)
The 2017 Dally M Female Player of the Year forms a formidable front row with Walton. An absolute machine who lets nothing get in her way, Taufa will be leading by example – straight through the middle – as the Blues look to make it three in a row. Her shift to the front row from lock mean she’s still agile with ball in hand.
11. Talesha Quinn - Second Row (Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks; Dragons NRL)
On the field, it’s easy to mix up the Blues’ second rowers. They look similar, play similar, which probably means Queensland have a tough night ahead containing them. Quinn has enjoyed a quick rise through the rugby league ranks and has earned her place alongside good mate Apps through hard work and a straight running game that just can’t be ignored.
12. Kezie Apps - Second Row (Helensburgh Tigers; Dragons NRL)
One of the most well-known female players in the game, the 2016 Dally M player of the year is back to full form and fitness after injury marred her start to last year. A straight runner with long strides, Apps will be getting through plenty of metres tonight.
13. Vanessa Foliaki - Lock (Brisbane Easts; Roosters NRL)
An experienced campaigner having represented the Blues since 2014 and Jillaroos since 2015, Foliaki will have one goal tonight: win. A take no prisoners player who wants nothing more than to see the Blues get over the line. Not just a forward who carries the ball up, Foliaki also knows how to get across the line having scored four tries during last year’s World Cup.
INTERCHANGE
14 Nita Maynard (Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks; Roosters NRL): A rugby sevens player and Kiwi Ferns representative who has been in Australia since 2011. Is quick off the mark and add spark off the bench.
15 Rebecca Young (CRL Newcastle): An absolute workhorse player, the experienced Young will come on the field and get straight into the hard work.
16 Holli Wheeler (CRL Newcastle): A member of the National Championship-winning NSW Country team, Wheeler impressed enough for coach Ben Cross to give her the call up. A second-rower who is willing to do whatever role is needed of her.
17 Hannah Southwell (CRL Newcastle): A just 19, Southwell has a big future ahead of her. Having played W-League and Uni Sevens, she’s back in league where her passion lies. She’s beefed up since returning to play second row and will slot in wherever Cross needs.
QUEENSLAND
1. Chelsea Baker - Fullback (Gladstone Wallabys; Broncos NRL): Under new coach Jason Hetherington, Jillaroos winger Chelsea Baker gets her chance to wear the No.1 jersey for Queensland. It’s a worthy reward for Baker who was one of the standouts at the National Championships tournament earlier this month. Her speed at the back could be very dangerous.
2 - Karina Brown (Captain) - Wing (Easts Tigers; Roosters NRL): The Queensland captain is one of the most passionate players in the female game. She showed her speed and incredible footwork during last year’s World Cup campaign for Australia and that performance on the wing has seen her end up there for this State of Origin clash.
3 - Amelia Kuk - Centre (Ipswich Brothers; no NRL contract yet): It’s been a tough start to the year for Kuk who suffered a serious leg injury in last year’s World Cup while playing for PNG. The injury ultimately saw her be left out of the NRL’s top 40 marquee players. But this Queensland jersey is a well-deserved reward for the work she’s put in to get back on the field. She is tough, feisty and a hard runner. No doubt she will be hard for NSW to control.
4 - Meg Ward - Centre (Souths Logan; Broncos NRL): Ward has burst onto the women’s rugby league scene over the last 12 months and is one of five debutants playing for Queensland in tonight’s match. She has a raw natural ability that has appealed to selectors at both state and national level and proved at last year’s World Cup she will not let anyone down. A star of the future.
5 - Rhiannon Revell-Blair - Wing: (Emu Park; no NRL contract yet): Revell-Blair is a 17-year-old high school student who is in demand. The minute she was eligible, Queensland scouts swooped in to select her for the first women’s State of Origin. She is a powerful runner with plenty of rugby sevens experience and is highly regarded by many in the game.
6 - Zahara Temara - Five-eighth (Roosters NRL): (Burleigh Bears; Roosters NRL): There was a code battle for Temara earlier this year, after the Queensland Reds also wanted her to play in their inaugural Super W season. That’s how good this young playmaker is. She is versatile, able to play in a number of positions, a strong runner and can spot an attacking opportunity from miles away.
7 - Ali Brigginshaw - Halfback (Ipswich Brothers; Broncos NRL): Brigginshaw is one of the most recognisable names in the women’s game thanks to her incredible talent. The player of the World Cup final last year, the Australian playmaker will be a massive target for NSW tonight. She is zippy and one of those players who can turn nothing into something with the blink of an eye.
8 - Rona Peters - Prop (Burleigh Bears; no NRL contract yet): Peters is explosive, tough and uncompromising. The coaching staff have done a good job to name her to start in the middle as she will not take a backwards step against a strong NSW forward pack. The former Kiwi Fern showed her red-hot form at the recent Nationals Championships.
9 - Brittany Breayley - Hooker (Ipswich Brothers; Broncos NRL): Breayley is the best No.9 in the women’s game. She has set such a high standard, has developed her skills watching Cameron Smith and Issac Luke and has been Queensland’s best over the last two years. She is a major threat.
10 - Heather Ballinger - Prop (West Brisbane Panthers; Broncos NRL): One of the most experienced players in the game today, Ballinger is tough, reliable and hard-working. She is a quiet character away from the field but on it, she is the kind of player that will never let you down. She broke her hand in last year’s interstate challenge and was still one of the best on field.
11 - Tazmin Gray - Second Row (Burleigh Bears; no NRL contract yet): No one can doubt Gray’s commitment to the game. Just four months after giving birth to her second child, the big forward is ready to make her representative return. It’s a remarkable feat and shows just how good she is that she can walk straight back into Queensland’s starting side.
12 - Maitua Feterika - Second Row (Ipswich Brothers; no NRL contract yet): Feterika was a star for the Kiwis during their World Cup campaign last year. But since moving from New Zealand to Australia, she has been shuffled from centre to the forward pack and taken her game to another level. She will bring an unknown factor to tonight’s clash but loves the aggression of being on the front line.
13 - Annette Brander - Lock (Souths Logan; no NRL contract yet): There are few in the game who work as hard as Brander. She’s the Corey Parker of the women’s game – toils away, makes the hard metres, doesn’t break down in defence and comes off the field knowing she has done everything she can to help her team. An absolute workhorse.
INTERCHANGE
14 - Mariah Storch (Blackwater Crushettes; no NRL contract yet): Storch has been on the Queensland radar for a long time and will make her debut off the bench tonight. She made a strong statement at the National Championships while playing for Queensland Country and is expected to bring some big hits to tonight’s game.
15 - Steph Hancock (Souths Logan; Broncos NRL): There is no one more passionate than Hancock. She keeps trying to retire from representative football and has hung up her boots for Australia. But she cannot let go of her Queensland jersey without one last win. Will tonight be her night? The tough forward will do everything to make sure it is.
16 - Kody House (Ipswich Brothers; Broncos NRL): House is the ultimate utility. She can slot in virtually anywhere and will be key to Queensland’s plans tonight. She can run hard and run fast and showed a lot of aggression in last year’s interstate challenge as she tried to help her side fight back.
17 - Tallisha Harden (Burleigh Bears; Broncos NRL): Harden was due to make her Queensland debut three years ago but broke and dislocated her ankle a week out from the game. This time she has taken no such risks. She has worked her way back to top form over the last few years and is reaping all the rewards she is deserving of.