Junior Western Clydesdales girls ready for rare State of Origin trip

Western Clydesdales stars Shenae Ciesiolka and Ali Brigginshaw stunned the club’s juniors with a surprise announcement at training recently. Find out what the big news is here.

State of Origin and Western Clydesdales players Ali Brigginshaw and Shenae Ciesiolka surprise Clydesdales junior girls players with news they will attend game one in the Women's State of Origin series.

Suncorp Stadium is Queensland Rugby League’s hallowed ground.

The beating heart of the game in the Sunshine State and before game one of this year’s Women’s State of Origin it will be the “home” of the Western Clydesdales.

Queensland Maroons stars Ali Brigginshaw and Shenae Ciesiolka surprised the Clydesdales under-17 and U19 girls squads with news they will be part of a unique State of Origin experience.

In partnership with Westpac the junior players will attend game one, mix with Former Origin Greats and spend time on the field.

“It’s super exciting. It’s going to be a great experience to see them play on the biggest stage of rugby league,” Clydesdales U19 player Eliza Morcom said.

“After seeing them play in our backyard, play and train with us to then go and watch them at the top is going to be really special.

“Having them (the Clydesdales senior Origin and Australia rep players) here, seeing them every week at training and hearing them say we’re doing a good job is so motivating.

“It’s inspires and makes it more realistic, it is like ‘wow I can achieve that goal if I put in the hard’.”

State of Origin and Western Clydesdales players Ali Brigginshaw and Shenae Ciesiolka surprise Clydesdales junior girls players with news they will attend game one in the Women's State of Origin series.

Leteena Medland is the odd one out in the Clydesdales junior girls squads.

The talented second rower is the only New South Wales Blues supporter among the club’s junior girls teams but she is no less excited about heading to Brisbane for game one.

“It was crazy,” Medland said of the surprise announcement.

“It will be pretty amazing watching my first Queensland and New South Wales game.

“Watching them run out and play knowing that could be us girls one day.”

In a twist of fate the Origin experience could send Medland down almost the exact same path as one of her idols Shenae Ciesiolka.

Like Ciesiolka, Medland is an Oakey Bears junior who first started playing league against boys.

“We have a few training (sessions) where some of the BMD (Premiership) girls come down and train with us like Kezie Apps,” Medland said.

“Kezie talked to us about, told us about her experience and how she was just like us.

“And then there is Shenae.

“I played for Oakey too and thinking she did the same thing I did, playing with the boys for the first few years, and then going onto to girls footy thinking I could be like her one day.