'Door still open' for Maroons veterans left out of series opener

Maroons coach Tahnee Norris insists the door is still open for Tallisha Harden and Chelsea Lenarduzzi to play in this year’s series after they were among six members of the 2022 team missing from the opening game.

Queensland selectors named an 18-strong squad for the June 1 series opener at CommBank Stadium, with the selection of Keilee Joseph, Sophie Holyman, Romy Teitzel, Emma Manzelmann and China Polata representing a changing of the guard.

Harden, Lenarduzzi, Brittany Breayley-Nati, Steph Hancock, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith and Lauren Brown were the omissions from last year's team, which lost 20-14 in Canberra.  

Brown, who was a member of November's World Cup winning Jillaroos squad, is unavailable due to work commitments, but Norris said the others remained in contention for Origin II at Townsville's QCB Stadium on June 22.

Harden, who is battling a knee injury, and Lenarduzzi have been mainstays of the Queensland forward pack since before the introduction of the NRLW in 2018 and Norris said their experience was valued.

“It doesn’t keep them out of Game II. If they are right for Game II then we look at it if we have to go down that path," Norris told NRL.com.

"'Duzzi' was a hard one [but] you just look at the young players and the fitness levels that they add to it and how fast the game is getting.

“Duzzi has a different X-factor, and it is just something we were looking at for this game, and then hopefully we have still got Duzzi in the mix for whatever happens.

“That’s why the emerging squad was really important at the start of the year to make sure the girls understand that this is two games.

“It is a contact sport, so many things could happen, so we just need to make sure we have the coverage."   

The squad includes six players who are set to play for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRLW this year and five Origin rookies in line for a maiden Maroons appearance. 

Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw will lead the new-look Maroons squad which includes Jillaroos stars Tarryn Aiken, Shenae Ciesiolka, Evania Pelite, Julia Robinson, Shannon Mato and Joseph, who are fresh off a World Cup win.

"Keilee has been part of the Jillaroos make-up from last year. She is just playing really good footy and has been part of our pathways," Norris said.

"She has captained the Queensland Under 19s team and now takes a big step up to the Maroons side.

“There are a couple of others who have been close in previous years. Romy gets her stint this year and I am really looking forward to Romy taking the field for us.

"She has been close the last couple of years, as has Emma Manzelmann, coming off the bench for us. She is still only 21 so she has got a long career ahead of her.

“A couple of new players who have popped up from last year in the NRLW, with Sophie Holyman  coming out and playing for us this year.