Andrew Johns describes her as “one of my favourites”, and NSW tyro Jesse Southwell has a chance to entrench herself as the Blues’ long-term halfback by steering them to a State of Origin series whitewash in Newcastle on Thursday.
The 20-year-old halfback has already helped NSW clinch the title with victories in the first two games, and the Blues will be chasing a piece of history by becoming the first women’s team to complete a 3-0 clean sweep.
As was the case with Johns 30 years ago, Southwell’s first Origin experience was underwhelming.
Johns was dropped after his first two Origins in 1995, only to return 12 months later as a dominant force in a 3-0 series triumph. The rest, as they say, is history.
Likewise, Southwell played two games for the Blues in 2023 but was surprisingly omitted last season, before new coach John Strange reinstated her for this year’s campaign.
Strange had no doubt that Southwell, who steered Newcastle to back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022-23, was destined to play Origin for many years to come.
“Definitely, for sure she’s got that,” Strange said on Wednesday. “To see what she’s done in the first two games as such a young girl, she’s learnt a lot in this block from all the coaching staff and players.
“They’re all learning off each other, and she’s really opened up to that, and you can see how she’s playing. She’s obviously had that natural ability – the running game, her footwork is great, her passing skills are brilliant, and she’s got a really good kicking game. It’s a testament to her in this series how she’s actually connected with the girls around her.
“There’s no use being a brilliant seven if you don’t have a connection with all the players around you, and that’s something she’s worked really hard on, which makes me really excited for her … she’s got a really high ceiling, and she’s not there yet, which is great for the women’s game.”
Strange said there were “a lot of other good halves in the game”, but predicted that challenge would bring out the best in Southwell.
Jesse Southwell has given NSW a new dimension in this year’s Origin series.Credit: Getty Images
“I think she’ll love that as well,” he said. “That’ll push her game higher and higher.”
In his Sydney Morning Herald column two weeks ago, Johns recalled how he first came across Southwell when he was a coaching consultant at the Knights.
“It’s safe to say that everyone on the field in those training sessions was blown away by the skill level she has,” he wrote.
He added that she “has so much improvement still to come” and declared she should be “the long-term halfback for the Jillaroos, starting right now”.
Tarryn Aiken was awarded the prestigious Golden Boot last year.Credit: Getty Images
Southwell is yet to wear the green and gold in rugby league, although she was part of the extended squad at last year’s Pacific Championships. She helped Australia’s rugby union sevens team win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Birmingham as a 17-year-old.
Incumbent Jillaroos half Tarryn Aiken, who will play five-eighth for Queensland on Thursday, clearly has no intention of surrendering her spot in the national team without a fight.
“I’d definitely like to retain my jersey,” Aiken said. “You always want to retain your jerseys in any team and definitely the Jillaroos.”
Aiken, who last year won the prestigious Golden Boot award, starred for Australia in their 90-4 hammering of England in Las Vegas three months ago, kicking 11 goals and producing six try-assists.
Strange, meanwhile, was confident complacency would not be an issue for the Blues, who want to finish the series on a high note in front of a crowd expected to surpass 20,000.
“We’ve spoken about that as soon as we came back into camp for game three,” he said.
“It’s about us and putting a really good performance out there on the field. If we don’t do that, then we’ll be disappointed, irrespective of the result …
“We’ve got to make sure that we keep working hard, and the Queenslanders are going to be desperate. They don’t want a 3-0 whitewash, so we’ve got to be better if we want to win this game, which we do.”
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