Norris throws loyalty behind reigning champs for Origin opener

Queensland coach Tahnee Norris has shown loyalty in the players that got the job done in last year's series for Game One but assured the remaining members of the extended squad are still in contention for the remainder of the series.

Norris has named her squad for Game One of the 2024 Ampol Women's State of Origin series to go head-to-head with the New South Wales Sky Blues at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday, May 16. 

The squad includes 16 players who took the field during the two-match series against the Sky Blues last year but Norris said the whole 30-player squad will be vital in retaining the shield in the new three-game structure. 

“We tried to keep those that were in the winning series from last year and I think it’s a good opportunity to showcase how well they’re tracking through our BMD Premiership as well," Norris told media on Friday.

"From our emerging camp we selected 30 players and all 30 were told that we’re going to need that whole crew to actually get us through three games.

"It’s the first time we’ve done it so it’s a whole new experience for all of us, so we’ll be tapping into that and if we need to make changes in Game’s Two and Three then we’ll look to those that we-re included in our 30 squad."

Shaniah Power and China Polata are the only two members to feature in 2023 that have missed out on selection for Game One after the Cowboys duo suffered injuries in the 2023 season but were still chosen as part of the 30-player squad.

Titans utility Lauren Brown, meanwhile, has returned to Maroons camp for the first time since 2022, while Sienna Lofipo, Skyla Adams and Makenzie Weale are a step closer to making their Origin debuts after also being named in the Game One squad.

"I’m really excited for those girls, you’re Sienna Lofipo, Skyla Adamas, Makenzie Weale, they’ve come through our pathways and it’s a really good opportunity for those girls," Norris said.

"They’re some super talented athletes and I’m really happy to have them in the squad.

"And welcoming back Lauren Brown after she spent a year with the fireys last year so it’s a really good opportunity for her to show what she did with the NRLW last year and she’s back in the mix this year.

"Loz has so many different skillsets and you saw that with the Titans last year as she played a number of different roles for them, she is the ultimate utility. 

"She can play in 13, 9, 7, outside back, back rower, she can jump in anywhere and is such a good athlete so whatever the situation presents I think she'll be there for us."

2024 will see a three-game series played in the women's Origin arena for the first time, with Queensland clinching last year's series on aggregate.

Queensland's camp will officially begin on Friday, May 10 ahead of the Origin opener on Thursday, May 16 prior to the NRL's Magic Round weekend.