Both teams have highlighted the importance of a fast start in their sold-out Origin II match, with the Sky Blues looking to claim the series, while the Maroons are fighting for a decider.
In the series opener, NSW blew Queensland off the park early with a quick-fire double from Emma Tonegato and a length-of-the-field stunner from Jaime Chapman setting them up for victory, with Maroons coach Tahnee Norris lamenting a “poor 10 minutes” which put her side on the back foot.
In preparation for Game Two at McDonald Jones Stadium, Queensland have conceded they need to be on from the kick-off if they are to take the challenge to the home side early.
5 Star Chapman
“They were great, we started slow, but that’s okay, we will learn from that and I think that’s obvious that we can be much better team, we have got experienced girls there so I am not too worried,” Maroons captain Ali Brigginshaw said.
“The Sky Blues will do what they do, but as Maroons, we have got to stick to what we do best and I know what that is, so I am confident in the girls.”
The Maroons have also made a few changes including bringing in debutant Sienna Lofipo at lock to strengthen their middle and moved Brigginshaw to the halves, with Maroons coach Tahnee Norris hoping the switch will bolster the side’s defence.
“There were a couple of things through the middle of the field that we needed to look at, so we are allowing for our debutant Sienna Lofipo to come into the mix in the middle of the field, really excited for her,” Norris said.
“She’s a really strong defensive player and has played a bit in the halves as well so she’s got some ball-playing ability which suits us and really looking forward to that to bolster the middle of the field.
“That pushes Ali back out to her favoured position at halfback as well … Ali controls the field and we want her in that role, we need her in that role for this game so she’ll do a job for us.”
Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder knows that Queensland will come out firing to start the game and won’t be ambushed again and has prepared her team with a physical opposed session to replicate the likely speed of the opening exchanges.
For this game, the squad were helped in their training by the Newcastle Knights Jersey Flegg squad, who provided a strong challenge for the players.
“I always like to have an opposed session against the boys because it just takes the girls to that next level,” Hilder said.
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“I know after 10 minutes they were really flustered and frustrated because it was really fast, but that's what I want.
“Origin in that first 10 minutes; you come out here and it can be gone within a snap of a finger.
“To get that intensity and that speed; it frustrates them, and it’s funny as a coach, but that's what I want … I want to challenge them.
“I want them to look at things and be challenged in a situation like that, so when they come into Origin, they're ready to go.”
Sky Blues co-captain Isabelle Kelly said similar opposed sessions had helped set them up for victory in past games and hoped it would work again.
“It’s not something new; actually, we do that basically every year and it's been probably one of the best things we've ever done,” Kelly said.
“Obviously, the boys are very quick and smart within their skill, but it makes us a lot better when we come on to game night that we can try and play that little bit faster or get that quick play the ball.
“We got a lot of positives out of doing that and we watched a video last night and it was really good to see that the girls were doing everything that we wanted them to do come game night.”
As well as facing off against a confident Blues side looking to wrap up the series on home soil, the Maroons will also have to contend with the hostile crowd, but Norris said the players would be more than capable of handling it and the expectation of performing on the big stage.
“I don’t think it will be a friendly welcome, but really looking forward to it with such a big crowd coming out there. To have a sold-out crowd, it’s exciting,” Norris said.
“As I said to the girls, they are coming out to watch women’s rugby league and that’s what it’s about.
“It’s going to be huge, it’s a massive occasion for them and it’s not lost on us that they are all coming to support the women’s game and that is what I am looking forward to.
“Origin is pressure, doesn’t matter what it is, these girls handle it. I think adding the extra crowd actually adds to the excitement of it all.
“These girls know what job they need to do tomorrow night, so the pressure, it’s already been there in Game One and it will be there in Game Two and Game Three.”
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