The women’s State of Origin title will be contested across two games for the first time in its history after the NRL announced games in both NSW and Queensland in 2023.
But players and coaches were left puzzled by the NRL’s decision not to increase the contest to three games, thereby eliminating the unpalatable prospect of a drawn series.
Blues coach Kylie Hilder said the growth of the competition was exciting, but the players would be disappointed that they wouldn’t get a full three-game series like the men.
“As a coach we are happy that we’ve got the two,” Hilder said. “Ideally it would be great to have three, but it is what it is, and we’ve got to get on with the job now. I suppose we’ve just got to have that mindset that you’ve got to win both games.
“They’ve obviously got their reasoning behind it, the NRL. But we have shown the last couple of years, with packed stadiums down in Canberra last year, the quality that we’re putting [in] now, the expansion of the NRLW, so these girls are elite athletes. So yeah, we’re definitely at a stage now that they deserve to have the three games.”
Kylie Hilder and Isabelle Kelly at the launch of the 2023 women’s State of Origin series. Credit: NRL
Jillaroos and NSW star Isabelle Kelly said the growth of the series was a sign more people were getting behind the women’s game, but confirmed the players had been hoping for a three-game competition.
“I know a lot of the playing group wish we had three games to be the same as the men. I think we deserve to have three games, but we’re here with two at the moment, so I know we’re just going to try and focus on winning the first game,” Kelly said.
Last year, the Women’s State of Origin was held at GIO stadium in Canberra before 11,321 fans. This year, the first match will be played on Thursday, June 1 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, and it is hoped the fixture will attract a record crowd.
“I think we have worked really hard to get it to this point to be able to play at CommBank Stadium,” Kelly said. “We’ve always loved playing at the grounds that have the crowds closer like North Sydney, but playing here in NRLW is just an unreal atmosphere, and I think playing here at nighttime is going to be something we’re ready for.”
The second game of the series will be played on Thursday, June 22 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, which has a capacity of 25,000 and will likely be packed with fans who have travelled from all corners of the state, said Maroons player Tarryn Aiken.
“I’m extra excited about the Townsville game,” Aitken said. “It’s going to be awesome out there, and they’re really passionate Queenslanders up in north Queensland, so it’ll make for an exciting atmosphere … they’ll come from all over the state, and it will be awesome.”
Unlike the men’s Origin series, the women’s competition will be held outside the regular NRLW draw, to avoid taking players out of the 11-week season. The two games will be played one month out from the NRLW season kick-off on July 22.
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