Maroons ready to tackle camp ahead of historic Origin series

With experience, a team-first focus and some of Australian rugby league’s top players returning, star Romy Teitzel has no doubt the Queensland Maroons are primed for a massive Origin series.

Queensland Women’s State of Origin teammates (from left) Shenae Ciesiolka, Romy Teitzel, Julia Robinson and Skylar Adams. Picture: Adam Head

Broncos backrower Romy Teitzel is confident the Maroons will hit the ground running when their mission to retain the Origin shield begins today.

Queensland will enter camp in Brisbane ahead of Thursday’s historic three-game series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

Coach Tahnee Norris has named a 20-player squad, which includes 16 players who saw game time in last year’s series.

With players also heading into camp off the back of one the most competitive BMD Premiership seasons to date, Teitzel expects the Maroons to settle into a rhythm quickly.

“When we come together it’s just about nailing opportunities and forming combinations,” she said.

“We’re very lucky in that we have a very similar team returning this year so the ability to build on something we had last year is pretty cool.

“Tahnee (Norris) has been the coach for a while now and being an ex-player she knows exactly what it means to play for Queensland.

“It means she can pass on a lot of knowledge to the girls and she is supported by some unreal staff.”

The NRLW premiership winner was part of the Queensland system for a number of years before making her Origin debut last year.

Her experience however does not mean the Wynnum Manly star takes anything for granted.

“State of Origin is the epitome of our game and to be finally able to run out on the field (last year) after being part of the squad for a few years was something I didn’t take for granted but it was also a very surreal moment,” Teitzel said.

“And to take it up to Townsville, to Far North Queensland, kind of where I am from with lots of family and friends watching was probably the highlight of my career so far.”

While Origin camp is intense, Teitzel said the workload and expectations were manageable due to the experience levels of the coaching staff and returning players.

“Shenae (Ciesiolka) and Ali (Brigginshaw) show and uphold great leadership qualities,’’ she said.

“Ali is the captain of Australia and the state and people joke that she is getting a bit old but I personally think she’s playing the best footy of her career at the moment.

“That’s a credit to the support around, taking the pressure off her and sharing the load.

“Ali is one that leads by her actions and that is uplifting in a game like State of Origin.”

Game two of the Origin series will be played at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on June 6 before heading to Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 27.