‘It was a bit of a 360 moment for me’: The Facebook post that’s driving Jessica Sergis ahead of must-win Origin clash

Most people laugh at what they posted on social media when they were younger. But a status update from 2012 is inspiring Jess Sergis.

Jess Sergis is using a Facebook post from 2012 to inspire her. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

A Facebook post from 2012 could be the inspiration Jess Sergis needs to help NSW bounce back from the loss in Sydney as they look to retain the women’s State of Origin shield in Townsville.

While most people regret what they posted on social media when they were younger, Sergis looks back fondly at a post from 11 years ago when she was getting ready to go to Olympic Park to support the men’s team.

A Facebook post from 11 years ago is inspiring Jess Sergis as NSW looks to produce an epic comeback in the women’s State of Origin series. Picture: Supplied

The Blues lost the first game that year 18-10, which was the exact same score from the first women’s game earlier this month when Queensland upset their southern rivals.

Sergis is hoping that history repeats itself after she was there to see NSW flip the result in 2012 with a gutsy 16-12 win, only for Queensland to win the decider 21-20.

The star centre couldn’t have predicted how her career would pan out after that status update, with Sergis scoring a hat-trick in her first Interstate Challenge in 2017, while she’s added two more tries for the Sky Blues since then.

Jess Sergis scored three tries on debut for NSW. Picture; AAP Image/Craig Golding

“I must have made a little status on Facebook that my brother, dad and I were off to the game to support the Blues,” she said.

“I probably thought nothing of it but it popped up a few days ago when my brother commented on the status saying now I get to play in it.

“That was a pretty surreal moment because that’s more than 10 years ago when I was in the crowd supporting the boys, but fast forward and I’m here getting ready to play my own State of Origin match with the best girls in the world.

“I get to have that same feeling and I know there are girls like me 10 years ago who are coming out excitedly to support us.

“It was a bit of a 360 moment for me and was shocked to see it.”

Sergis scored a try in the game at CommBank Stadium, but it wasn’t enough to get NSW over the line. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Sky Blues were heavy favourites in the first game of the series, but Sergis admits the new format rattled the team as they went away from the game plan.

This year’s series has been expanded to two games, with the winner decided by aggregate score, which is why NSW felt they needed to pile on the points early to apply scoreboard pressure.

That backfired when they found themselves behind, with the young side producing a string of errors as they tried to chase the game.

It’s why coach Kylie Hilder doesn’t want them to focus on the margin, with the Sky Blues more than capable of running in quick tries if they click into gear.

NSW players have vowed to not be influenced by the scoreboard like they were in Sydney. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“That was our downfall in the first game,” Sergis said.

“I felt like we were chasing points for the entire 70 minutes and that meant we were playing football that wasn’t our style.

“We were pushing passes, putting in kicks that we don’t usually do and just went away from the plan to chase points. That didn’t end up working for us.

“Straight after the game we knew what we had to do, and the first words Kylie told us were that our main job was to win the game, not chase points.

“That’s resonated with us and we’re just going to play our game on what will be a drier track that will suit us.”