Toowoomba league duo chosen in Queensland Maroons State of Origin squad

Toowoomba cousins Shenae Ciesiolka and Jada Ferguson are in the frame for an incredible honour following the announcement of the Queensland Maroons State of Origin squad.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Toowoomba duo Shenae Ciesiolka and Jada Ferguson have received an early Christmas present. 

The cousins have both been selected in the Queensland Maroons 34-woman squad for the 2022 State of Origin.

It follows on from a big 2021, where both represented their state at various levels.

Ciesiolka played on the wing in her second State of Origin appearance for the Maroons, while Ferguson lined up at five-eighth in the Queensland U19s team.

It will be the first year of equal match payments for the women, when it was announced that the women would receive up to $15,000 for participation in next year’s State of Origin game.

The Chronicle spoke to Ciesiolka last month and she labelled it a step in the right direction.

“It was really exciting to hear the news that we are going to receive equal pay,” she said.

“It just goes to show that women’s rugby league is moving forward and growing each day.

“It’s been spoken about in the past, but for it to be happening is great. A lot of people have come up to me and mention how awesome it is, that’s when you realise the reality of it.”

The payment will be broken down into a $4000 payment for making the 30-woman training squad, $7000 for the final 19 to enter the training camp and a further $4000 for the 18 playing in the match.

Ciesiolka said this would go a long way to helping out those players who have had to sacrifice in order to take their place.

“We still have to work, some of the girls are mothers and some are still studying,” she said.

“To keep that balance of work, family, study and training, it’s awesome to get some recognition and some assistance for when we go into training camps and have to leave our jobs and stuff like that.

“I’ve only been in the game for a year and a bit, but you hear the stories about what players have had to give up in order to play.

“It gives me a bit of extra drive and incentive to put in the hard yards, because we all want to be running out there.”