Queensland’s women’s rugby league team will be channelling the success of their male counterparts in the Interstate Challenge after a visit from Kevin Walters.
Fresh from guiding Queensland to their third straight Origin series win, Walters visited his female counterparts in camp ahead of Sunday’s clash with NSW at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.
Queensland come into the game without the Nellie Doherty Cup in their possession for the first time in the concept’s 18-year history, after NSW claimed their first-ever victory on the Gold Coast last year 8-4.
But Queensland captain Karina Brown said Queensland were better-placed than ever to win back the title.
“Kevvie Walters came into camp and gave us the secret to the Maroons success and we’ll be using that as inspiration on Sunday,” Brown said.
“We’ve been really fortunate for the first time ever to have a few camps beforehand so I think that’s put us in a great position to get the trophy back.”
NSW will host the match for the first time since 2014 but captain Ruan Sims was keen to put her side under the radar.
“Queensland have had such a strong and rich legacy,” Sims said.
“Seventeen years unbeaten, it is unparalleled in the men’s and the women’s game so their history is so strong within the game
The clash will also act as one of the final tests for selection ahead of the 2017 Women’s Rugby League World Cup to be held across the two states later this year.
As it stands the fixture is an annual one-off between the two sides, however there are hopes it will fall into the “Origin” branding and series format in the future.
“I’m going to call it the women’s Origin because I feel like it is,” Sims said.
“We play with the heart and the passion, the games are just as tough and torrid and people love watching us run around.”
The NSW squad boasts eight current Jillaroos while four will take the field for Queensland.
Dally M 2016 Female Player of the Year, Kezie Apps, will also don the blue after making a remarkable recovery from a broken leg in February.
Sunday will be the last state representative clash for Queensland legends Steph Hancock and Renae Kunst, who will play alongside five debutants.
“What they’ve done, not just for the Queensland game but for the game in general, is huge,” Brown said.