State of Origin 2024: Jaime Chapman fights for NSW Origin spot with gruelling travel schedule

Women’s State of Origin kicks off next month and the competition for spots in the NSW team is hotter than ever – so much so that Jaime Chapman is flying to Sydney twice a week from her home on the Gold Coast in a battle to keep her spot.

Jaime Chapman is flying to Sydney twice a week to fight for her NSW Origin spot. Pic: NRL Imagery

Jaime Chapman is a warrior, and there’s no way she’s giving up her NSW Origin spot without a fight.

The Titans and Jillaroos star has been flying to Sydney twice a week from her home on the Gold Coast for an intense NSW Origin camp where the Blues are plotting to win the shield back in this year’s historic three-game series. The huge travel schedule is a necessary commitment from the 22-year-old with newcomers Jakiya Whitfeld, Teagan Berry and Brydie Parker breathing down her neck for selection.

“There’s lots of new girls, unfortunately they’re all outside backs so there’s a lot of competition but the girls are so talented, they have every right to be there and they deserve their spot,” Chapman said at Thursday’s Women’s Origin launch in Brisbane, where the first game will be held on May 16.

“Obviously it’ll be a bit of a hard choice for Kylie [Hilder], having so many to choose from, but everyone has been really good so far.

“There’s some young girls coming up too and they’re pretty scary, you never know when is going to be your last time in the jersey so I’m really grateful to be in the squad to be honest.”

It’s a new kind of preparation for the Blues, who are without a NSWRL open women’s competition this season in the lead up to Origin after it was moved to run alongside the NRLW later in the year.

Jaime Chapman is flying to Sydney twice a week to fight for her NSW Origin spot. Picture: NRL Imagery

A squad of 34 players, including rising stars of the game like Whitfeld, Berry and Canberra forward Grace Kemp, meet at Blues HQ to train once a week, and for a scrimmage on Saturdays, to make sure they’re match fit for game one.

Queensland is also having a hand in preparing the Blues, with most high profile players playing in the women’s competition up north.

As well as Chapman, Knights stars Jesse and Hannah Southwell and Blues skipper Kezie Apps have been flying down twice weekly to train.

“It’s lots of flights,” Chapman said.

“I come down for the Tuesday sessions and then play a game on Saturday, and then return to Queensland and play BMD again for Tweed once Origin camp is all over and then wait for the selection.”

With 28 days until kick off, the competition is fierce.

“I love it, I love a bit of rivalry, I get pretty aggressive on the field, this is why I love Origin so much, I can get all of that out on the field,” Chapman says.

“It’s good, you get that mongrel in you and you can go out there and let loose.”

Originally published as State of Origin 2024: Jaime Chapman fights for NSW Origin spot with gruelling travel schedule