Second chance at success: Penitani, Sky Blues relishing fresh shot at redemption

Blues winger Tiana Penitani insists she won’t let her second chance go to waste after being ruled out of the Ampol Women’s State of Origin opener with a hamstring injury.

Previously, Penitani would have been forced to wait 12 months to return to the Origin arena but with a new two-game series, the star outside back is determined to make the most of her second-chance to help the Sky Blues retain the shield.

“It’s probably the worst case scenario when you go into camp healthy and then you come out injured,” Penitani told NRL.com.

“It hurt not being able to be out there with the girls and knowing that we had a couple of girls playing out of position due to the change, so it was really tough for me.

“It's massive to have another game. I'm so grateful that it’s worked out this and that we do get a second chance for the first time.

We've never had a second chance in Origin. We've been begging for that opportunity to make it like the men's and make it a series to have a chance to redeem ourselves.

“If it was last year, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get fit and come back to camp. I'm so grateful to be given another chance so soon."

Watching from the coaching box as teammate Isabelle Kelly was helped from the field, struggling to breathe after copping an elbow to the throat in Game One, Penitani said she is grateful to be back sharing an edge the co-captain.

With the star centre cleared to play and returning to contact training this week, Penitani has no doubt Kelly will be back to her 2022 Nellie Doherty Medallist form.

“Izzy going down was probably one of the most uncomfortable feelings just watching her squirming,” she said.

“We didn't know what it was because we were so far up, we couldn't really see, we thought it maybe like a shoulder or a knee or something and then we got the message that it was her throat. It was really scary.

“It's been a few years since Izzy and I played alongside each other on an edge.

“So it’s exciting, I can’t wait to be running off the back of her and same with Em (Tonegato) at the back.

“Izzy's tough. That's all I can say is Origin is her time of the year where she just comes alive. She loves this game. I'll obviously be out there to support her in any way but she won't need it. She's a tough bugger.”

With the Sky Blues needing to win Game Two on Thursday by at least nine points to retain the series, the 27-year-old said coach Kylie Hilder has put a big focus on her side winning the contest before chasing points.

“I have been in that scenario. Last year playing for the Eels when we were kind of sitting right at the bottom of the of the ladder and had to beat the Broncos by a certain amount of points. We ended up doing that and booking a spot in the semi-finals," Penitani said.

“But that's not what goes through your head. It's really just we need to get this win. And if a byproduct of that is points, then go for it.

“I think that is first and foremost the priority, to win and to play our style of footy," she said. "We know that we are a team capable of scoring points, so points will come off that.

“I know that the message this week from the coaches will be that we need to win this game. The points is not the issue yet.