‘She could be footballer of the year’: Positional gamble not a concern as Blues move on from last year’s State of Origin heartbreak

She was the Dally M centre of the year in 2024, but Tiana Penitani Gray will play a new position in the Origin opener.

New Blues coach John Strange isn’t using last year’s heartbreak as motivation ahead of game one of the women’s State of Origin series on Thursday where he’s backed Tiana Penitani Gray to excel in her new role.

NSW got the jump in game one last year thanks to a stunning long-range Jaime Chapman try, but the win in enemy territory didn’t lead to series success, as the Maroons stole game two with a late field goal before they cruised home in the decider.

It was a brutal way to lose the series after the promising signs they showed at Suncorp Stadium, but Strange – who replaced Kylie Hilder as coach – hasn’t used the loss as fuel for this year’s campaign.

Last year’s series heartbreak won’t be used as motivation for game one. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“No we haven’t. (The) main reason being I wasn’t there, so it would be disrespectful for me to talk about last year as a coach,” he said.

“It’s about moving forward. When we started our block, yes there were quite a few girls who were involved last year in that six-week block, but there were quite a few new girls.

“But I didn’t see a point for me to dredge it up. Also there’s nothing we can do about that. It’s about moving forward.”

The Blues have made several changes to the squad that lost last year, with Penitani Gray to partner young gun Jesse Southwell in the halves.

Penitani Gray was named in the centres in the 2024 Dally M team of the year and led her Sharks to the grand final on the back of an outstanding NRLW campaign.

Tiana Penitani Gray and Jesse Southwell will form a new-look halves combination for the Blues. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

She played all three games of last year’s series on the wing but will switch to the halves where she’s been tipped to thrive with a roving commission to play on both sides of the field.

“She could be footballer of the year,” her coach said.

“Tiana is a footballer. I know she has played predominantly in the centres and played a bit of fullback in her early days.

“She can pass both ways really well, she is a great runner and she understands the game.

“When we came into this training block, for me it was about having her train in a few different positions, as I did with a few of the girls, and see what worked and what fit for the team.

“But for me it is about getting Tiana more footy and getting her more involved. While she has the six on her back, I still want her to think about the running game as well, which is obviously very strong.”

Tarryn Aiken (left) has been a key player for John Strange at the Roosters. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

While Penitani Gray is new to the role, she’ll have to go up against superstar Tarryn Aiken, who is coming off a monster year for the Roosters, Maroons and the Jillaroos.

Strange coaches her in the NRLW and joked when he took the job in December that he hoped she’d be injured for the three-game series.

“I spoke to her a week and a half ago and I said this is the last time we have a chat,” he said, with the Maroons boasting one of the greatest spines ever assembled.

“But I said to her that the comment I made (was a joke) and I hope she is playing because we were having a bit of a laugh then. I would hate to think that she’s been under a bit of an injury cloud, but she’s right to go.

“I want their best players out there, and she is obviously one of the best in the world. She will be out there and we have to try and stop her.”

Originally published as ‘She could be footballer of the year’: Positional gamble not a concern as Blues move on from last year’s State of Origin heartbreak