Women’s State of Origin: Queensland captain Karina Brown desperate to be a winning leader
AFTER a long domination, the women’s Maroons have had two years to learn what it is like to lose. But captain Karina Brown wants to use that pain to ignite the Queensland spirit.
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QUEENSLAND captain Karina Brown is shouldering a huge responsibility in Friday night’s women’s State of Origin clash.
For the first 17 years of the interstate challenge against NSW — which will be played under the Origin banner this year — the ladies in maroon dominated the annual fixture.
That was utill they suffered their first loss to the Blues in 2016.
Last year Brown took over the captaincy for the first time, but NSW came away victorious again.
For the Queenslanders, losing is something they were not used to and the past two years of pain has been a bitter pill to swallow.
But Brown knows things have to change and a lot of the responsibility for that falls on her shoulders.
“As the captain you have to lead by example,” she said.
“You have to rally the troops and make sure everyone stays together and they have that belief in themselves. I have a big responsibility on my shoulders to do that.
“I want to get around to each of the players and make sure they know they deserve that jersey and they have to fight with that Queensland spirit.
“I want the win for the team.”
Queensland have gone to massive lengths to ensure they are supported in the best way, with former Maroons hooker Jason Hetherington coaching the side for the first time.
They will also be boosted by the presence of Queensland legends Allan Langer and Trevor Gillmeister as their on-field trainers, while past women’s players Karyn Murphy and Nat Dwyer are assisting Hetherington.
Brown said having the greats of the past from both the men’s and women’s game was already having a huge impact on the team.
“They just embody the Queensland spirit and that’s what’s filtering to the playing group,” she said.
“That spirit, it’s something you can’t describe with words. It’s a feeling. It’s something you can only understand if you’re a Queenslander.”
The women’s team will also head into the clash at North Sydney Oval tonight with the support of men’s captain Greg Inglis, who met with a lot of the players at a QRL lunch on Monday.
Inglis, a longtime supporter of the women’s game, said he could not wait to see what came of the first female State of Origin.
“Everyone involved in the game should be extremely proud of the growth of women’s rugby league,” Inglis said.
“Bringing this match under the State of Origin banner for the first time is a great initiative.
“I’m really impressed with the talent in this team and the way they have come together. I’m sure they will do our state proud.”
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Originally published as Women’s State of Origin: Queensland captain Karina Brown desperate to be a winning leader