Queensland Maroons boosted by hosting women's State of Origin

Annette Brander in action for the Maroons in 2019.

Author: Alicia Newton NRLW Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 2 Nov 2019, 09:41 AM

Australia and Queensland representative Annette Brander is confident league fans on the Sunshine Coast will turn out in droves to support the women's State of Origin fixture next June.

The NRL confirmed the major event was headed north of the border this week after three years in NSW.

Brander, 26, made her debut for Queensland five years ago after starting her senior career with the Sunshine Coast Sirens in 2010.

Sunshine Coast Stadium - which has a capacity of 12,000 - held its first NRL clash in April when the Rabbitohs met the Warriors.

"I've played there a couple of times and they've done a lot of work there in the last few years," Brander told NRL.com.

"It has an old-school feel with a hill and the atmosphere is crazy so I think we'll get a good turnout.

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"I know a lot of people on the Sunshine Coast who drive to Caboolture and then get a train to watch the Broncos play in Brisbane.

"I've played against NSW in North Queensland and on the Gold Coast but to be at a local field will bring the game a lot closer to the crowd.

"For the growth of women's league on the Sunshine Coast, it will be massive."

Calls for the fixture to return to Queensland gained momentum following the Maroons' 14-4 loss at North Sydney Oval in June.

Broncos forward Brander - who was judged Queensland's best in the 2019 Origin clash before also winning the Karyn Murphy Medal as player of the NRLW grand final - believes the Maroons are close to turning recent results around.

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"I think there will be a few changes whether it's due to retirement or positional switches but we're already looking to do things better like meeting up earlier in the year and setting our standards higher," Brander said.

"Being back home in Queensland will lift people a lot more and reach a standard they've never reached before. It's a great mental edge to have in any game."

The NRL are expected to soon announce further changes to the women's calendar for 2020.

Among the topics of discussion include possible expansion of the NRLW and the length of matches in major games.

Origin and NRLW matches have been played in 30-minute halves since last year but Test matches climb to 80 minutes under international rules.

"I'd like to get to 35-minute halves and then hopefully build to 40," Brander said.

"It can be hard to prepare for each year. Club games in Brisbane you play 35 minutes and then go to NRLW and Origin playing 30.

"I don't think it would too big of an ask to play the extra time."