'Mean machine': Inside Pearson and Baxter's Sky Blues recalls

After receiving a “horrible” phone call from Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder advising that she had been dropped last season, Rachael Pearson decided to approach her before the squad for this year’s series opener was announced.

“I’m one who sort of prefers to rip the band-aid off, so after our final session I was sort of hanging around because I wanted to know either way instead of waiting for that phone call the following day,” Pearson said.

The Eels playmaker was the NSW No.7 in the corresponding game of last year’s series but after losing 18-10 at CommBank Stadium she was dropped for teenage Knights star Jesse Southwell.

I think sometimes I come across as too nice, which on a footy field I need to not be, so that's something I've been working on.

Rachael Pearson

However, after working hard to shake off a reputation for being “too nice”, Pearson earned her recall alongside veteran playmaker Corban Baxter, whose last Origin appearance was in 2021, for the May 16 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

“I’m super happy to be back in the Sky Blues jersey, it’s something that really means a great deal to me,” Pearson told NRL.com.

“That was shattering to miss Game II last year, but it was either dwell on it or work hard to get back, and that’s obviously what I did. I’ve had to work hard to be more dominant.”

That was among the advice Hilder gave to Pearson after delivering the bad news to her about her axing for Origin II in Townsville, which NSW won 18-14 but still lost the two-match series on points differential.

Pearson is renowned as one of the best general play kickers in the NRLW, but Hilder wanted her to be more ruthless in games.

“It was a horrible phone call that she had to make, and that I had to be on the receiving end of, but that's footy,” Pearson said.

“Obviously, decisions had to be to be made, and made quickly in between games last year.

“I think sometimes I come across as too nice, which at times on a footy field I need to not be, so that's something I've really been working on – to be mean on the field, or more ruthless, and just take control.”

With Baxter having played almost exclusively at fullback during her four NRLW seasons with Sydney Roosters, she is expected to play a running role, with Pearson to be the organising half.

The pair earned their recalls after impressing at a seven-week training camp for NSW players and Baxter revealed Hilder had wanted her to train at five-eighth, where she played her seven previous Origin appearances.

“I wasn't sure coming into the program where I was going to lean towards more, obviously playing fullback more in the last year,” Baxter said.

“But Kylie had the vision that she wanted me to trial in the five-eighth position, so I just pretty much went in there from the start.

“I spent some time training with Rachael, but I also got to experience that with Kirra [Dibb] and Jesse, as well, and it felt good with all of them.

“There’s a lot of great candidates that could have played in this position, so it just makes me proud to know that I earned my way back into the team.”

While Southwell has won back-to-back NRLW premierships and is undoubtedly going to be a star for years to come, Baxter and Pearson, who are both 30, provide the experience that Hilder believes is needed to steer NSW around.

“I’ve been around for a minute, and I feel that last year I played some of my best footy and was really up to the challenge of mixing it with the younger ones,” Baxter said.

“Obviously, Jesse last year did an amazing job; she's so electric and she was awesome for the side, so I am well aware that she is probably chomping at the bit to be in this side.

“Rachael definitely has a level headedness, and I’d like to think that I can bring a little bit of calmness, but I’m also aware that we need a bit of fire and a bit of threatening attack in my position, too.

"Being a full back, I'm a bit more of a runner of the ball, and I can bring that element to the five-eighth position."