The Women's Ampol State of Origin kicks off in Sydney on Thursday night with the Sky Blues and Maroons to battle out the first of the home and away two-game series.
The Blues broke the Maroons' winning streak last year with a thrilling 20-14 victory at GIO Stadium and coach Kylie Hilder will be hoping the New South Wales crowd can help the reigning champions kickstart their campaign to win back the shield.
The successful Maroons spine combination of Tamika Upton, Zahara Temara, Tarryn Aiken and Destiny Brill return from their 2021 campaign with coach Tahnee Norris going back to what worked, including the move of veteran Ali Brigginshaw out of the halves and in to lock.
Norris no doubt had nightmares of centre Isabelle Kelly bashing her way over the try line with three minutes to play to seal the Blues victory last year and the nail-biting finish is sure to have lit the fuse throughout the Maroons camp.
Both NSW and Queensland are yet to give up a game on home turf since 2018, with Thursday's season opener pivotal in shaping the new-look two-game series.
Hilder will be confident her team can get the job done at home with 12 players selected from last year's win in Canberra, but the Sky Blues will field a new look spine with Knights sensation Jesse Southwell to partner Rachel Pearson in the halves with Keeley Davis at hooker.
Since the official beginning of the Women's State of Origin in 2018, New South Wales hold the record, having won three of the last five competitions.
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Team news
Sky Blues: Winger Tiana Penitani has been ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up late in the week. That sees Jess Sergis shift to the wing and Taliah Fuimaono move from the bench to start at centre. Quincy Dodd is the new face on the interchange. Kennedy Cherrington goes from lock to prop, with Brooke Anderson promoted from the bench to start at lock. Captain Kezie Apps reverted to the bench an hour before kick-off.
Jaime Chapman, Jesse Southwell, Anderson and Fuimaono will all make their Origin debut.
Maroons: No late changes for Queensland, with Ali Brigginshaw moving back to lock where she played in the 2021 series, while Zahara Temara takes her place at halfback. Roosters forwards Keilee Joseph will make her debut in the front-row in place of Chelsea Lenarduzzi who missed selection for Game One. Sophie Holyman, Romy Teitzel and Emma Manzelmann have also found a place on Tahnee Norris' bench. Broncos recruit Destiny Brill moves to hooker after starting at lock last year. Julia Robinson and Emily Bass have retained their spot on the wings.
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Must-See Matchup
Emma Tonegato v Tamika Upton
Expect sparks to fly when fullbacks Tamika Upton and Emma Tonegato go head-to-head in Sydney on Thursday night. After Upton beat Tonegato to the punch as fullback in the World Cup before withdrawing, the NSW No.1 will no doubt be out to prove she's one of the form players of the game after a late call-up to last year's World Cup. In last year's Origin clash Tonegato racked up a try, three line breaks, five tackle breaks and 163 metres in a starring performance while Upton has long been the strike weapon of the Maroons since making her debut in 2020. Interestingly, it'll likely be the final game Tonegato plays in the number one jumper, with the new Sharks signing set to play at five-eighth in the upcoming NRLW campaign.
Stat Attack
- Former Jillaroos teammates Kylie Hilder (NSW) and Tahnee Norris (Queensland) are locked in a 1-1 head-to-head battle after both took on head coaching roles in 2021.
- A total of 18 players will take the field who were part of Australia’s successful World Cup-winning Jillaroos squad in November.
- Women’s State of Origin matches have been decided by an average of only six points or less since 2018.
- Canberra set a new record last year for the biggest crowd women's Origin has seen with 11,321 fans.