Fresh from claiming the Natalie Dwyer Medal as player of the match in her side’s Under 19 State of Origin win, Queensland young gun Rilee Jorgensen has her sights set on making her NRLW debut this year with the Titans.
One of seven players from the Gold Coast club selected in the Maroons squad, Jorgensen proved an energetic presence on the field, with her coach – former Queensland Women’s representative Deanna Turner – praising her contribution as one of many important efforts from her players.
“Rilee was outstanding through the middle there, she just tightened us up and she had a couple of tough carries,” Turner said.
“But all of the players, individually, brought something to the game like Lily Peacock and Delaney Claridge off the bench brought energy, Em Bella brought energy off the bench.
“Sienna Laing's hits on the side twice; they just poured energy to the team and we needed that.
“I think everybody did their job.”
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After the match, Jorgensen, who featured for the title-winning Burleigh Bears in the BMD Premiership this year, said the game was a great experience to be part of and was made even better by the support of her family and teammates.
“It was one of a kind; not even a BMD grand final compares to it, it's just crazy quick, there’s nothing that you can put into words to describe how it is out there,” Jorgensen – who can play second row, lock and in the halves – said.
“All my family, they've driven an hour-and-a-half, two hours just for me and it's just an honour.
“We had the Titans girls all come all the way up to support us, just shows how strong of a club they are.”
Selected in the top squad for the Titans under the coaching of Karyn Murphy, Jorgensen has impressed the former Jillaroos and Queensland captain with her development this year, which has also included featuring in the undefeated Queensland Rubys side at the recent Harvey Norman Women’s National Championships.
“Rilee’s been playing really, really well and she's a character definitely,” Murphy said.
“I've known her since she was a little girl on the side of a footy field years ago, so it's really exciting that she's coming into our squad.”
After helping Queensland claim their first win in this representative fixture since it began in 2019, Jorgensen’s next goals were clear.
“My goals for this year are to hopefully make my debut, get the call up from Murph, that's my goal, that's what I wanna do," Jorgensen said.
“The Titans have been so good towards me; they've just looked after me; I have come up from the academy ...
“I actually live out in Hatton Vale; it's probably half an hour outside of Ipswich and … I still live out there. So, I drive down to the Gold Coast four days a week for training and it's an effort, but you gotta do what you gotta do for what you love.”