It’s a case of everything old is new again, with Queensland coach Nathan Cross handing young gun Chantay Kiria-Ratu her debut, playing alongside Lauren Brown in a revamped halves pairing.
With the Origin retirement of Maroons stalwart Ali Brigginshaw and injury to Tarryn Aiken, Queensland were set to test a new-look spine, with Cross hoping Sharks playmaker Kiria-Ratu and Titans halfback Lauren Brown can rekindle their partnership having played together for the Titans in 2023.
“They are shaping up really well,” Cross said.
“To be honest, during the pre-series, I tried to keep things as fair as I could so that when I picked that team and I put my head on the pillow that night, I know that everyone's had a fair crack.
“So Chantay and Loz haven't spent a heap of time together doing reps during the pre-series because we spread that around with everyone.
“But there's a good understanding there, they've played together with the Titans before.
“Chantay's very calm, she's a cool head, she's only young, but she probably acts like she's 28 or 30.
“And Lauren Brown, we all know what she can do.
“They'll have a really good opportunity this week to spend a heap of time together on and off the field and I'm really confident that those two will come together well and provide a good combination next Thursday night.”
Still only 21, Kiria-Ratu has achieved plenty and endured a lot in her career, overcoming a season-ending ACL injury in 2024 to emerge as a leading halfback in her NRLW return last year.
While on debut for the Maroons, Kiria-Ratu is also no stranger to the representative arena, featuring for the Queensland Under 19 Maroons in 2022 and 2023, and more recently helping guide Cook Islands Moana to their Pacific Bowl triumph last year.
Having also played in the Gold Coast’s NRLW grand final team in 2023, the new Maroons five-eighth has plenty of experience in high pressure games and felt ready to step into her latest challenge.
“Pressure's always a privilege to me and that's something I really hold up,” Kiria-Ratu said.
“Definitely with my international games, it's helped me to build and be a better player.
“I've been pretty lucky to be part of massive teams and at still at such a young age, but I think that just comes back to all the hard work I've put in, especially with injury.
“Coming back from all that has just made me a bigger and better, stronger player.
“(This camp has) been good, it's been fun, especially being around some of the best players in the state.
“It has been super, super cool for me, getting to learn off them and even with the new staff, getting to learn from Crossy as well.
“I'm just super I'm always excited to come into camp and just learn different things and new things.
“We've really focused on connection throughout this camp and that was one of the main points we as a team wanted to build and be really strong with that.
"I think just bouncing off each other and all my old team-mates and obviously new team-mates now, it's made it so much easier for me.
“It'll be a great honour to run out in a Maroons jersey.
“I've been lucky enough to start my rugby league journey down here in Queensland, on the Gold Coast and I've been lucky enough to represent Origin in the Under 19, so putting on the jersey would mean a lot.
“It would be such a massive privilege to run on with the best of the best in our state.”
Match: Blues Women v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues Women
away Team
Maroons
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
*There’s nothing like experiencing Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry live as Ampol Women’s State of Origin returns for 2026. Get your tickets HERE!
