NSW Blues name four debutantes for Women’s State of Origin Game 1
NSW women’s coach John Strange has named four debutantes in a new look Blues squad ahead of the State of Origin series opener against the Maroons on May 1.
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The NSW Blues women’s team have named four debutantes to join new skipper Isabelle Kelly in a fresh looking 20-player squad for next week’s State of Origin series opener against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
Parramatta’s Abbi Church, Sydney Roosters’ duo Jayme Fressard and Jocelyn Kelleher and Cronulla’s Ellie Johnston are the new faces in the mix to make their debuts next Thursday as NSW look to avenge last year’s 2-1 series loss.
New coach John Strange, who steered the Roosters to the NRLW premiership last year,
had the tough job of cutting the squad back from 30 and is pleased with the preparations so far ahead of the three-game series.
“Having the six-week training block was a great opportunity to get to know all the players and see how they combined and worked together,” Strange said.
“All 30 players were outstanding over this period making it a very difficult decision to cut the squad down to 20. The players who are selected for game one certainly have earned their position and I can’t wait for them to take the field on 1 May.”
All-conquering Roosters centre Kelly, is thrilled to lead the side, and is ready for another tough series after the Blues women squandered a 1-0 series lead last year.
“The level where it’s at now in State Origin with how intense it is, especially in the women’s game, we all learnt a lot (from last year),” Kelly said.
“We see every year with origin how far this game has come, I know both teams are going to produce a great product.”
Kelly heaped praise on the addition of two-time NRLW premiership-winning coach Strange.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be coached under him nearly my whole career. I can see what he does with teams, what he does with individual players and how he can make them better,” she said.
Together with four debutantes in the squad, there are also four players returning to the fold after missing the 2024 series.
North Queensland’s Kirra Dibb last played in 2022 but looks set to form a new halves pairing alongside Newcastle young gun Jesse Southwell who also returns to the side, with last year’s halves Rachael Pearson and Corban Baxter not named.
The team will go into camp in Sydney on Thursday, and features nine players from the Jillaroos side that thumped England in Las Vegas earlier this year.
The Blues host the return bout in game two at Allianz Stadium on May 15 before the final game of the series at McDonald Jones Stadium on May 29.
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Originally published as NSW Blues name four debutantes for Women’s State of Origin Game 1
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