Women's State of Origin Team Lists: Game One

Queensland

The Maroons have made a forced change to their team, with Keilee Joseph ruled out of Game One with an MCL sprain. The forward is eyeing a return for the second clash in Newcastle. Makeznie Weale is in line for her Origin debut after being added to the interchange. The Queensland squad includes 16 players who took the field during the two-match series against the Sky Blues last year with Ali Brigginshaw again set to lead from the front in her eighth State of Origin appearance. Titans utility Lauren Brown returns to Maroons camp for the first time since 2022, while Sienna Lofipo and Skyla Adams are a step closer to making their Origin debuts after being named in the Game One squad. Shaniah Power and China Polata are the only two members to feature in 2023 that have missed out on selection for Game One after the Cowboys duo suffered injuries in the 2023 season but they were still chosen as part of the 30-player squad. "From our emerging camp we selected 30 players and all 30 were told that we’re going to need that whole crew to actually get us through three games," coach Tahnee Norris said.

New South Wales

Kezie Apps and Isabelle Kelly will lead a new-look Sky Blues outfit that boasts a new halves pairing in Corban Baxter and Rachel Pearson. Baxter, 30, lines up for her first Origin game since 2021 while Pearson returns after being left out of Game Two last year. “Rachael has been outstanding, she’s really fit and she’s ready to go. She just fits the way we want to play and the style we want to play," coach Kylie Hilder said. Among the other new faces are hooker Olivia Higgins and bench forward Grace Kemp, who are set to make their Origin debuts, while prop Caitlan Johnston returns after coming off the bench in 2022. The extended squad also includes the uncapped Jakiya Whitfeld and Ellie Johnston, and Kirra Dibb who represented the Sky Blues in 2019 and 2022.

Stat Attack

• The women’s Origin honour roll is currently tied at 3-all. NSW won the Shield in 2018-19 and 2022, and Queensland in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
• Maroons Emily Bass and Julia Robinson and NSW's Tiana Penitani were the equal leading tryscorers in last year's Origin series with two tries apiece.