Queensland has begun plotting its comeback on the Blues after they lost three of four major interstate representative series in 2022, with various camps and catch ups with selected players held last month.
Although Billy Slater enjoyed a stirring come-from-behind series victory in his State of Origin coaching debut with the men's team, the Maroons Harvey Norman women's side, as well both Queensland Under-19's teams, all went down to the Blues last year, with the younger age groups comprehensively beaten.
Queensland's women's side finished at the wrong end of a close match at Canberra's GIO Stadium in front of a record crowd last year and with two State of Origin games to take place this year, coach Tahnee Norris was keen to get on the front foot with her side’s preparations.
A squad assembled last month to run through team expectations and goals, as well as taking part in some skills training.
“It's going to be tough ... because we know that we have to win both of them. We want to win both of them anyway, there's no doubt about that,” Norris said.
“But, there's a lot more to being able to back up to that second game, so the girls really need to work hard on their fitness throughout the season and make sure they're prepared for not just one game, because it is the fastest and the quickest game they’ll ever play in, and now, they have to play two.
“We want to work on how to get back through both of those, and knowing that in the middle of all that, there's an NRLW pre-season as well, so it's trying to put some really good processes in place to make sure that we can still get the best out of them for Origin.”
For Norris, while the goal was to win both Origin games to reclaim the shield which they had held for the two years prior, the February camp was also a way to help players prepare for another big season of rugby league in general, with most squad members set to play in the statewide BMD Premiership competition, as well as 2023’s expanded NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership.
Some players, like Shannon Mato and Jasmine Peters, had also already kicked off their playing year with an All Stars appearance in New Zealand.
“This camp another opportunity to get them all together and go through what the season looks like. There’s been a few changes in addition to another Origin game, so it's trying to help the girls out with planning around the BMD Premiership season and trying to give them the best indication on what we can do for them to actually get them playing their best footy through that season,” Norris said.
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“We want to make sure that the girls are going to be looked after too, we've got a really good crew here at Queensland and some really good support staff in place who are absolute experts in their field, so we want to make sure that they can help the girls out as much as they possibly can and also enjoy the experience at the same time because that's what it's about.”
Broncos assistant coach Matt Ballin was appointed Queensland Under 19 boys coach for this year and has already named an Emerging Squad to kick-start his preparations.
The former Maroons State of Origin hooker has a tough assignment ahead, with Queensland having struggled in this representative pathways game in the past, particularly in both the under-19's and under 20's.
In fact, a Queensland team have only won once since the concept began in 2012, claiming an U/20's victory back in 2018 when a Justin Hodges coached side – led by a player of the match performance from Jake Clifford in a team featuring Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Harry Grant and Patrick Carrigan – ran out 30-12 winners at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland-based members of the 2023 Under 19 emerging squad assembled in Brisbane at the start of February, while those contracted to clubs in New South Wales met a week beforehand in Sydney in two “get to know you” camps where the focus was on developing a strong team culture.
“It's not about training at all, these young fellas … they all get training through their clubs and do fitness and conditioning and skills all week,” Ballin said.
“The camps that we've had are all about connecting as Queenslanders.
“We have done the Sydney-based guys and made sure that they know that they're cared about and we're watching them, and we want them to feel that connection to their state.
“Gavin Cooper and Matt Gillett, along with myself and Nathan Cross are the coaches and all we're doing is connecting with everyone, making sure everyone's comfortable with each other before we go into camp and making sure the standards of what we want out of them in the next two months of football are clear.
"Then the process for them to get selected in the team and what happens is really clear.”
The squad features a number of up-and-comers such as Karl Oloapu and Angus Hinchey, as well as a handful of players who were part of the team last year.
“We've told them that just because you got selected last year doesn't mean you getting selected this year, so they know that they have to go and play well for their clubs, and that's what we want them to do, play well and that will happen after that,” Ballin said.
“The selectors are touching base with them every game they see and we'll give them feedback.
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“There are guys that have played last year, like Benny Te Kura, Blake Mozer, Jye Gray … (but overall) there's a whole heap of about 30 players that are really fantastic young men, and they've got a great ability to play football, so selection in the team is very open.
“The main part for these camps is connection, that's right down from Billy Slater from the State of Origin team, and we want to do the same with our young fellas.”
