Under 18 stars to clash in Origin curtain raiser

Author: Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Thu 11 Apr 2019, 12:59 PM

An under 18s match between NSW and Queensland is set to be played as a curtain raiser for the women's Holden State of Origin on June 21.

NSW will host the interstate fixture for a third consecutive year and second under the official Origin banner at North Sydney Oval.

Queensland are likely to field a team through their QAS development programs with an under 18 squad chosen next month.

The NSWRL have an under 18 competition in place through the Tarsha Gale Cup with a team set to be selected through the emerging pathways.

Rising Sharks playmaker Quincy Dodd, who has come through the Tarsha Gale Cup competition and represented the Indigenous All Stars in February, would've been eligible to play last season.

"I think it's awesome, I'll miss out but there's heaps of new faces that get an opportunity to play on a stage they would never have before," Dodd told NRL.com.

"They can show what they've got and the sort of talent coming through."

Quincy Dodd hopes to crack the NSW Origin team. ©Nathan Hopkins/NRL Photos

Dodd was 18th player for the Blues last season and is hoping to go one step further in 2019.

The Blues could have several openings in their back-line with Nakia Davis-Welsh and Sam Bremner expected to miss the clash due to the birth of their first children, while Blues winger Taleena Simon is taking a break from the game.

NRL.com understands last season's residency rule is set to be scrapped, leaving the futures of Kiwi Ferns representatives Maitua Feterika (Queensland) and Nita Maynard (NSW) on the Origin scene in limbo.

Dodd can play anywhere in the backline, leaving incoming NSW coach Andy Patmore with an option to blood the rookie off the bench as a utility.

"I still felt a big part of it," Dodd said of her 18th player experience.

"Even though I was on the sideline I felt I was on the field. The atmosphere was crazy, everyone was yelling. If I got the opportunity I would take it with both hands but there's a lot of footy to be played between then."

Tickets to the 2019 women's Holden State of Origin clash went on sale in March.