Queensland have rung the changes for Women’s Origin, naming five debutants in their squad to face NSW in the first two-part series next month.
Coach Tahnee Norris has stuck with some of her big guns, retaining Ali Brigginshaw as captain and naming Tarryn Aiken, Shenae Ciesiolka, Evania Pelite, Julia Robinson, Shannon Mato and Keilee Joseph, who all featured in the victorious Jillaroos squad at the recent World Cup in England.
Joseph played for Australia but has yet to make her Origin bow, and she leads the new breed of Maroons women going into 2023.
Alongside her will be Sophie Holyman, Romy Teitzel, Emma Manzelmann and China Polata, all of whom are yet to feature at this level.
Ali Brigginshaw of the Maroons runs the ball (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
There was no space, however, for stalwarts such as Lauren Brown, Tallisha Harden, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith and Brittany Breayley-Nati.
Brown was not considered due to non-rugby league work issues and Harden is injured, but three-time NRLW Premier Lenarduzzi and Breayley-Nati, who has seven appearances at Origin level and won the Women’s Dally M in 2018, were overlooked.
The NRLW is yet to start in 2023, leaving Norris to select her team off form shown in state cup games.
The Broncos remain the most represented team in the Maroons ranks, with six players named, followed by four Gold Coast Titans and three from the North Queensland Cowboys, who will make their first appearance in the NRLW in this year’s competition.
The Roosters and Raiders will have two players with Tamika Upton, player of the match in the 2023 NRLW Grand Final, the sole representative from last year’s Premiers, Newcastle Knights.
“We’ve picked in-form players on the back of a really strong BMD Premiership competition,” said the coach.
“This year’s competition has gone from strength to strength and we’ve seen a number of players force their way into the squad following consistent performances over the past few months.
Norris said she was excited for the debutantes.
“Romy Teitzel is a Townsville girl and has been so close the last couple of years so I am really looking forward to her taking the field,” Norris said.
“Emma Manzelmann is a fantastic player and still only 21 with a long career ahead of her.
“Sophie Holyman has played well for the Burleigh Bears throughout this season and is really fresh in rugby league after play rugby sevens before, but she is a strong, fit player.
“China Polata has been part of our pathways system for quite some time and started the Mackay Cutters season making 200 metres per game and has been absolutely phenomenal.
“Last but not least is Keilee Joseph who was in the Jillaroos setup last year and is part of our pathways after captaining the Queensland under 19s.”
NSW will name their team later this week, with men’s Origin lineups set to follow over the weekend.
Queensland women’s Origin squad
Tarryn Aiken (Sydney Roosters)
Emily Bass (Gold Coast Titans)
Ali Brigginshaw (Brisbane Broncos)
Destiny Brill (Brisbane Broncos)
Shenae Ciesiolka (Brisbane Broncos)
Jessika Elliston (Gold Coast Titans)
Tazmin Gray (Brisbane Broncos)
Sophie Holyman (Canberra Raiders)
Keilee Joseph (Sydney Roosters)
Emma Manzelmann (North Queensland Cowboys)
Shannon Mato (Gold Coast Titans)
Evania Pelite (Gold Coast Titans)
China Polata (North Queensland Cowboys)
Shaniah Power (North Queensland Cowboys)
Julia Robinson (Brisbane Broncos)
Romy Teitzel (Brisbane Broncos)
Zahara Temara (Canberra Raiders)
Tamika Upton (Newcastle Knights)
with AAP