NSW and Queensland have finalised their line-ups for the opening game of the 2023 Women’s State of Origin series with a total of 23 players returning, eight debutants and three earning recalls.
NSW Sky Blues
Kylie Hilder has 12 players returning from their successful 20-14 win over the Maroons in Canberra last year with injuries hitting the squad plus the selection call to overlook Kirra Dibb and the retirement of Sam Bremner.
Biggest Strength
NSW’s back five were at their dominant best last year, running for 650 metres compared to Queensland's 447 metres on the night in a trend that could continue with four of five players back plus the debut of Jaime Chapman on the wing.
It's an area the Sky Blues know they have a point of difference and can dominate and in return help out their forward pack as they look to make yardage through the middle.
This was further evident with NSW starved of the ball last year with only 47% possession. Isabelle Kelly (13 tackle busts) is a notable metre-eater and has proven in every Origin game played she's easily Queensland's hardest opponent to shut down.
The two-time Nellie Doherty medal winner will again be pushing the Sky Blues forward and has added an extra bow to her career after being named co-captain for the first time for the Sky Blues alongside Kezie Apps.
Isabelle Kelly was the difference
Biggest question mark
Jesse Southwell and Rachael Pearson are both notable halfbacks who haven’t played a single game of rugby league together but will go into the series opener looking to quickly gel.
Both players are fairly dominant playmakers so it will be interesting to see who takes more control of the side.
Southwell has been named at five-eighth but naturally at Newcastle she took more control than Dibb during their premiership-winning season.
The losses of key forwards Simaima Taufa (shoulder), Hannah Southwell (knee), Holli Wheeler (knee) and Caitlan Johnston (knee) will also put some big pressure on the pack while the bench make-up is relatively inexperienced.
The side will rely on Sarah Togatuki to provide some impact off the interchange but are probably lacking one more forward who can add some punch if required after 20 minutes - the same way Johnston did last year.
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Queensland Maroons
Tahnee Norris has 11 players back in her line-up that were defeated in Canberra last year, including her 1-5 backline, who will all need to churn out more numbers by getting more involved for the series opener.
Biggest strength
The successful spine combination of Tamika Upton, Zahara Temara, Tarryn Aiken, Destiny Brill are all back from their 2021 campaign with Norris going back to what worked with Ali Brigginshaw switching back to lock.
With the exception of Brill, the same set-up was there in 2020, which saw the Maroons win both games.
Queensland's forward pack also looks far more well-balanced on paper with Norris turning to youth in Keilee Joseph, Shaniah Power and Destiny Brill in her starting side while they have more size on the interchange compared to the Blues.
Power's play on the left edge should work better with Tarryn Aiken and Evania Pelite while Joseph has enough representative experience now in the middle after making her international debut for the Jillaroos last year.
The inclusion of Emma Manzelmann is a big one for the Maroons. On debut, the Knights premiership-winner should be able to find space around the ruck with her combination with Upton already there from their time in the NRLW.
Upton the beneficiary of some great lead up play
Biggest question mark
It's a changing of the guard for the Maroons, who haven't picked seasoned-campaigners Brittany Breayley-Nati, Steph Hancock, Tallisha Harden and Chelsea Lenarduzzi in their side for the series opener.
Lenarduzzi was among the biggest selection omissions with the 27-year-old coming off a strong BMD Premiership season with Burleigh.
Between the quartet they have over 40 games of interstate experience and have been regular mainstays in the Queensland forward pack.
After highlighting NSW's dominance through the middle last season, it adds further pressure on the Maroons rookies and returning players to get their middle motoring with a much younger side.
If they can take advantage of the Sky Blues' current injury toll in the middle and match it, there's plenty of strike power in the Maroons side around their spine and backline to return serve in the opening game.